Ireland wait on try hero Henshaw

JOE SCHMIDT is pleased that Ireland have a genuine shot at beating England to claim this year’s Six Nations title after his side romped to a comfortable eight-try defeat of Italy.

‘If you had said to me two weeks ago you can have nine points and a 38-point differential I would have bitten your hand off,’ Schmidt said.

The win in Paris last week and this bonus-point win is the perfect platform for the Irish ahead of their date in Dublin with Wales in a fortnight.

‘Wales will be a whole different scenario,’ said Schmidt.

And they will be, as Schmidt will likely be without two-try Robbie Henshaw for that pivotal encounter, after the midfielder smashed his shoulder in the act of scoring an intercept try early in the second half.

He will have it scanned today, but Schmidt has already mentioned the possibility to flinging Garry Ringrose into the championship fray even though he has not played since early January due to an ankle injury.

Schmidt’s other major concern is Lions Test prop Tadhg Furlong, who pulled up lame in the fourth minute.

He is confident the tighthead will make it to starting line-up, but yesterday’s replacement Andrew Porter did not look out of place in a one-sided match that was settled by the interval with the home side 28-0 ahead.

Ireland hit the front with tries from Henshaw and man of the match Conor O’Shea.

Bundee Aki then added the third before Keith Earls secured the bonus point with a try on 35 minutes.