Meanwhile, Marcus Horan will continue with his rehabilitation and at this point, is not ruled out of contention for the Italian game. The Munster prop sustained a calf strain on Friday, which ruled him out of the win over Scotland with his place at loosehead going to Ulster skipper Simon Best.

Scrum half Isaac Boss is still recovering from his recent shoulder injury and he is definitely not in the running to make the squad for Ireland's final fixture of this year's Six Nations.