Andy Farrell has plenty of piecing together to do when a reduced Ireland squad meets up at Abbotstown on Thursday.
With two rounds of the Six Nations already over - and a win, a loss and six points accumulated - Farrell and his coaching lieutenants can draw a breath before deciding how to approach the final three fixtures against Italy on Sunday week, then England and Scotland in March.
The fitness of his troops will form part of the equation. Ronan Kelleher's shoulder injury forced him out of the first half action in Paris last Saturday, and he will undergo tests this week.
