Andy Farrell provides Hugo Keenan injury update after Italy Six Nations victory

Hugo Keenan limped off injured and coach Andy Farrell has provided an update.

Hugo Keenan is a doubt for the Ireland-Wales on February 24th - Saturday week - game following picking up a knock against Italy at The Aviva.

The full-back had been - as ever - in superb form before having to leave the field after 56 minutes, replaced by Harry Byrne.

"Hugo has a bang on his knee, he is limping and we will see how he is in the morning," said Andy Farrell after the game.

Keenan had been instrumental in settling Ireland down and, indeed, there was a quick-thinking tap-and-go from deep in his own half that was the precursor of the opening try.

Defensively sound throughout, there was also an artful handling a particularly wickedly bouncing ball in Ireland right-hand corner in the first-half.

Moreover, there was sight of electric attacking skills in the third quarter when racing on to a kick-through he scythed past a couple pf defenders before being unluckily taken down by the last Italian between him and the line.

Keenan made a creditable 82 metres from eight carries in his 56 minutes.

Should Ireland be missing Keenan it will spark debate as to just who should fill in as there appears to be, and hasn't been for some time, designated full-back cover.

The Leinster star started last week against France, started all five Rugby World Cup games and, of the 28 games stretching back to February 2021 prior to that, started 25.

The currently-injured Jimmy O'Brien filled in against Italy in August 2023 and Fiji in November 2022 while Ulster's Michael Lowry was in the no15 shirt against Italy in February 2021.

Options in the current squad should include international rookie Ciaran Frawley who has made six of his nine Leinster starts this season in the no15 shirt.

Another duo Jacob Stockdale last played full-back for Ireland against Scotland in December 2000 while Jordan Larmour started the first three games of the 2020 Six Nations at no15.

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