Ireland's Joey Carbery is set to miss the remaining World Cup warm up matches because of an ankle problem, but is due to make the plane to Japan.
The Irish Independent are reporting that the playmaker will sit out the games against England at Twickenham on August 24th, Wales in Cardiff on August 31st and Wales again in Dublin on September 7th after suffering ligament damage in the win over Italy.
Carbery, the understudy to talisman Johnny Sexton in the Irish team, was the standout player in the 49 minutes he was on the pitch against the Azzurri.
He is likely to be fit for the World Cup opener with Scotland in Yokohama on September 22nd.
That is a double edged sword, as it would have been worse for the player to miss any of the showpiece event, but it also challenges his match fitness.
It also means Sexton will probably play in two of the warm up games.
It's important for the Leinster fly-half to be at the perfect pitch for the trip of the Far East, but there is always the worry that all players can come through these preparatory tests unscathed.
There is opportunity in Joey Carbery's absence for Jack Carty and Ross Byrne to impress coach Joe Schmidt before the final squad calls are made.
Ireland are off to Portugal for warm weather training tomorrow, with a further cut to the 43 man panel expected.
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