The IRFU say that they expect Jamie Heaslip to be sidelined for around four weeks as a result of the lower back injury he suffered during last Saturday's win over France.
The Union say that scans have confirmed that the Ireland No 8 suffered fractures to the transverse process of three of his vertebrae.
The good news is that the treatment for the injury typically does not require surgery and should pose no long term health issues for the player.
The four week recovery prognosis means that Heaslip could still feature in Ireland's last two Six Nations matches against Wales and Scotland.
Meanwhile, French second-row Pascal Papé has been cited for the collision that led to Heaslip's injury.
Papé will have to appear before an independent disciplinary panel later this week, charged with punching or striking, after he appeared to lead with his knee into Heaslip's lower back and he was shown a yellow card by match referee Wayne Barnes.
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