Irish eyes are smiling as O'Connell plans return

Ireland's Six Nations campaign has been given a timely lift after it was revealed that Paul O'Connell is on course to face Scotland in three weeks.

O'Connell missed Saturday's unconvincing 16-11 victory over Italy with a back injury that had threatened to rule him out for the rest of the season.

But after one abortive comeback, the feared Munster lock has made encouraging progress in his recovery and coach Eddie O'Sullivan has cautiously pencilled him in to face the Scots at Croke Park on 23 February.

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"I'm careful with Paul because he was doing well in the build-up to the Six Nations only to wake up one morning in big trouble," said O'Sullivan.

"It's one of those injuries that can act up but now his rehabilitation is going well. The plan is for him to play maybe half a game with Munster A against Ulster A next weekend.

"The week after he'll play in the Magners League and if he gets through that he'll come into the frame for the Scotland game.

"That's the plan but I'm being careful because Paul had a similar plan a few weeks ago that came unstuck."