O’Driscoll - 3 to 4 Weeks
Brian O’Driscoll will only be out for three to four weeks as a scan delivered a positive diagnosis on his hamstring tear.
With no first choice centre partnership (D’Arcy already has a fracture forearm), Ireland must trying a new midfield partnership, Horgan being the likely candidate to move from the right wing to inside centre and Trimble moving one place down.
The back-three will ultimate depend on injuries and the availability of Murphy and Dempsey who missed out on the Wales game - if neither of them are ready it could be an exciting time for one of the youngsters from Leinster.
O’Sullivan is being urged to throw caution to the wind and give some of the youngsters a run-out, but a finish outside the top three would be Ireland’s worst finish since 1999. O’Sullivan has indicated that his conservatism will be controlled by the IRFU and what they want.