Sexton on the mend

After yet another head knock, when the Ireland pivot suffered collided with a teammate in Leinster's 10-51 Champions Cup defeat at the hands of Wasps last Saturday, he showed promising signs of recovery.

According to a statement from the Irish camp Sexton has already passed his 'Head Injury Assessment One and Head Injury Assessment Two'.

"He will complete HIA Three tomorrow [Tuesday]," the statement said.

The Irish camp also confirmed that Connacht's Finlay Bealham has been brought into the Ireland squad, following the hamstring injury sustained by prop Marty Moore – which has ruled him out of the Six Nations tournament.

Moore limped out of the fray against Wasps at the weekend and will be out of action for six to eight weeks.

First-choice prop Mike Ross is also in a fitness battle and likely to miss the start of the tournament due to his own hamstring injury.

Ross and Cian Healy are being monitored by the Leinster medical staff, but are thought to be a couple of weeks away from a return.

Robbie Henshaw suffered no ill-effects after starring for Connacht at the weekend, the centre having not played since breaking his hand in November.