Use the following highlights to write an article:

Fly-half Johnny Sexton has 'hit all his markers' in battling hamstring issues.
He is expected to be fit for clash with Wales to define Grand Slam hopes.
Team manager Mick Kearney says there is still a chance he will not be fit.
Johnny Sexton must come through 'modified training' to prove his fitness for Ireland's pivotal RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Cardiff. Ireland's lynchpin fly-half has 'hit all his markers so far' in battling hamstring trouble, but is still fighting to recover to face Wales on Saturday, according to team manager Mick Kearney. Number eight Jamie Heaslip was due to take contact training on Monday for the first time since fracturing three vertebrae in his back against France on February 14. Ireland's Johnny Sexton is winning his battle to be fit to face Wales in the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday. The Leinster stalwart is now expected to be fit to face Wales, where victory would leave Ireland almost nailed-on for the Grand Slam. 'Johnny Sexton continues to improve following a mild hamstring strain,' said Kearney. 'As a precaution he will have modified training during the early part of the week with an expectation that he will train fully towards the end of the week. 'We are very happy where he is at, at the moment. He has hit all his markers so far. 'Johnny will have modified training in the early part of the week and if he comes through training through the latter part of the week, he will be available for selection. Sexton has come through all the tests asked of him so far but there is still a chance he could miss the game. 'Jamie Heaslip is expected to train fully this week and barring any setback will be available for selection. 'Sean O'Brien and Jared Payne have both progressed well through the return to play protocol and will be re-introduced to full training during the week. 'Johnny will have modified training today. Jamie will train fully today.' Team manager Kearney admitted British and Irish Lions Sexton and Heaslip are both 'extremely eager' to face Wales this weekend. Ireland are gunning to retain the Six Nations title for the first time since 1949, and also claim a second Grand Slam in six years. Sexton limped out of the latter stages of Ireland's 19-9 victory over England in Dublin on March 1 and has been battling to recover ever since. The 29-year-old has a history of hamstring problems, but Kearney does not expect that to colour his recovery. Jamie Heaslip is expected to train fully this week and barring any setback will be available for selection. 'From what I remember the last time he had a problem was between the Australia game and New Zealand game, in the November series just over 12 months ago,' said Kearney. 'He actually recovered pretty quickly then. 'He came off at half-time against Australia and was fit to play and played the whole game, or most of the game against New Zealand without any issue. 'That certainly wouldn't be a worry at the moment. 'Jamie (Heaslip) hasn't taken any contact yet. He will train fully today and provided there is no reaction he should be available for selection. 'They are extremely eager, absolutely: very eager to play.' Fit-again Ulster lock Dan Tuohy has been drafted back into Ireland's wider 36-man training squad. Fit-again Ulster lock Dan Tuohy was drafted back into Ireland's wider 36-man training squad for the final two weeks of Six Nations action. Ireland must win in Wales and Scotland to secure the Grand Slam and retain their Six Nations title - but, barring injury, will do so without veteran centre Gordon D'Arcy. The 35-year-old Leinster centre has been omitted from Schmidt's training squad, with Ulster's Darren Cave and Munster's Keith Earls providing midfield cover. Team manager Kearney refused to accept D'Arcy's absence could spark the end of his glittering 81-cap Test career however. His long-term centre sparring partner Brian O'Driscoll retired last summer, but D'Arcy himself has always been determined to push on to this year's World Cup. 'That is a selection issue, yes,' said Kearney of D'Arcy's absence. 'Gordon has been an unbelievable servant for Irish rugby. 'He's back fit, back playing for Leinster, so certainly I wouldn't rule him out for future consideration.' Both teams must give consent for Saturday's Millennium Stadium match to be played under a closed roof. Team manager Kearney said Ireland will delay their decision until later in the week, and base it around the chances of rain. 'We are waiting to see what the weather forecast turns out like,' said Kearney. 'We don't have to make a decision on that until 7pm on Thursday. 'We will wait until then before we make a final decision. 'I think overall, our preference would be for a dry day and decent weather, rather than wet and miserable weather. 'In good weather our preference would be for it to be open.'
Använd följande höjdpunkter för att skriva en artikel: Fly-half Johnny Sexton har "hit alla sina markörer" i kamp hamstring frågor. Han förväntas vara lämpad för sammandrabbning med Wales för att definiera Grand Slam-hopp. Teamchef Mick Kearney säger att det fortfarande finns en chans att han inte kommer att passa.
Use the following highlights to write an article: Fly-half Johnny Sexton has "hit all his markers" in combat hamstring issues. He is expected to be suited for clashing with Wales to define the Grand Slam jump. Team chief Mick Kearney says there's still a chance he won't fit.
Johnny Sexton måste komma igenom "modifierad träning" för att bevisa sin lämplighet för Irlands pivotala RBS 6 Nations sammandrabbning mot Wales i Cardiff. Irlands lynchpin flughalva har "hit alla sina markörer hittills" i stridande hamstring problem, men kämpar fortfarande för att återhämta sig för att möta Wales på lördag, enligt team manager Mick Kearney. Nummer åtta Jamie Heaslip skulle ta kontaktträning på måndagen för första gången sedan han spräckte tre ryggkotor i ryggen mot Frankrike den 14 februari. Irlands Johnny Sexton vinner sin kamp för att kunna möta Wales i RBS 6 Nations på lördag. Leinster-talwarten förväntas nu passa att möta Wales, där segern skulle lämna Irland nästan fastspikat för Grand Slam. "Johnny Sexton fortsätter att förbättras efter en mild skinka sträng stam", sade Kearney. "Som en försiktighetsåtgärd kommer han att ha ändrat träning under den tidiga delen av veckan med en förväntan att han kommer att träna fullt ut mot slutet av veckan. 'Vi är mycket glada där han är, för tillfället. Han har träffat alla sina markörer hittills. "Johnny kommer att ha modifierad träning i början av veckan och om han kommer igenom träning under senare delen av veckan, kommer han att vara tillgänglig för urval. Sexton har kommit igenom alla tester som begärts av honom hittills men det finns fortfarande en chans att han kan missa spelet. "Jamie Heaslip förväntas träna fullt denna vecka och om inte motgångar kommer att finnas tillgängliga för urval. 'Sean O'Brien och Jared Payne har båda gått bra igenom återgången till spelprotokollet och kommer att återinföras till full träning under veckan. Johnny kommer att ha modifierad träning idag. Jamie kommer att träna fullt ut idag. Team manager Kearney erkände brittiska och irländska Lions Sexton och Heaslip är båda "extremt ivriga" att möta Wales i helgen. Irland skjuter för att behålla Six Nations-titeln för första gången sedan 1949, och gör även anspråk på en andra Grand Slam på sex år. Sexton haltade ur de senare stadierna av Irlands 19-9 seger över England i Dublin den 1 mars och har kämpat för att återhämta sig sedan dess. 29-åringen har en historia av hamstring problem, men Kearney förväntar sig inte att färg hans återhämtning. Jamie Heaslip förväntas träna fullt ut denna vecka och om inget bakslag görs kommer det att finnas tillgängligt för val. "Från vad jag minns förra gången han hade ett problem var mellan Australien spelet och Nya Zeeland spelet, i november serien drygt 12 månader sedan," sade Kearney. Han återhämtade sig ganska snabbt då. "Han kom av på halvtid mot Australien och var lämpad att spela och spelade hela matchen, eller större delen av matchen mot Nya Zeeland utan någon fråga. 'Det skulle verkligen inte vara en oro för tillfället. James (Heaslip) har inte tagit någon kontakt än. Han kommer att träna fullt ut idag och under förutsättning att det inte finns någon reaktion bör han vara tillgänglig för urval. "De är extremt ivriga, absolut: mycket ivriga att spela." Fit-igen Ulster lås Dan Tuohy har dragits tillbaka in i Irlands bredare 36-manna träningstrupp. Fit-again Ulster-låset Dan Tuohy draftades tillbaka in i Irlands bredare 36-mannaträningstrupp inför de två sista veckorna av Six Nations-action. Irland måste vinna i Wales och Skottland för att säkra Grand Slam och behålla sin titel Six Nations - men, om man inte skadar sig, kommer att göra det utan veterancentret Gordon D'Arcy. Det 35-åriga Leinstercentret har utelämnats från Schmidts träningstrupp, varvid Ulsters Darrengrotta och Munsters Keith Earls ger mittfältstäckning. Team manager Kearney vägrade acceptera D'Arcys frånvaro kunde utlösa slutet på hans glittrande 81-cap Test karriär dock. Hans långvariga centersparringpartner Brian O'Driscoll gick i pension förra sommaren, men D'Arcy själv har alltid varit fast besluten att driva på till årets VM. "Det är en urvalsfråga, ja, sade Kearney av D'Arcy frånvaro. "Gordon har varit en otrolig tjänare för irländska rugby. "Han är tillbaka i form, spelar för Leinster, så jag skulle inte utesluta honom för framtida övervägande." Båda lagen måste ge sitt samtycke till att lördagens Millennium Stadium-match spelas under ett slutet tak. Team manager Kearney sade Irland kommer att fördröja sitt beslut till senare i veckan, och basera det runt chanserna för regn. "Vi väntar på att se hur väderprognosen blir", sade Kearney. Vi behöver inte fatta ett beslut om det förrän kl. 19 på torsdag. Vi väntar tills dess innan vi fattar ett slutgiltigt beslut. Jag tror att vi generellt sett föredrar en torr dag och anständigt väder, snarare än vått och eländigt väder. 'I gott väder skulle vi föredra att det var öppet.'
Johnny Sixteen must come through "modified training" to prove his suitability for Ireland's pivotal RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Cardiff. Ireland's lynchpin fly half has "hit all its markers so far" in combative hamstring problems, but still struggles to recover to face Wales on Saturday, according to team manager Mick Kearney. Number eight Jamie Heaslip would take contact training on Monday for the first time since he cracked three vertebrae in the back towards France on 14 February. Ireland's Johnny Sexton wins his fight to face Wales in the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday. The Leinster-talwart is now expected to fit to face Wales, where the victory would leave Ireland almost nailed to the Grand Slam. "Johnny Sexton continues to improve after a mild ham string strain," Kearney said. "As a precaution, he will have changed training during the early part of the week with an expectation that he will be fully training towards the end of the week. 'We are very happy where he is, for now. He's hit all his markers so far. "Johnny will have modified training at the beginning of the week and if he comes through training in the latter part of the week, he will be available for selection. Sixteen have come through all the tests requested by him so far but there's still a chance he can miss the game. "Jamie Heaslip is expected to practice fully this week and unless adversity will be available for selection. 'Sean O'Brien and Jared Payne have both gone well through the return to the game protocol and will be reintroduced to full training during the week. Johnny's gonna have modified training today. Jamie's going to be fully trained today. Team manager Kearney acknowledged British and Irish Lions Sixteen and Heaslip are both "extremely eager" to face Wales this weekend. Ireland shoots to retain the Six Nations title for the first time since 1949, and also claims a second Grand Slam in six years. Sixteen limped out of the later stages of Ireland's 19-9 victory over England in Dublin on 1 March and have struggled to recover ever since. The 29-year-old has a history of hamstring problems, but Kearney does not expect to color his recovery. Jamie Heaslip is expected to practice fully this week and if no setback is made it will be available for choice. "From what I remember the last time he had a problem was between the Australia game and the New Zealand game, in the November series just over 12 months ago," Kearney said. He recovered quite quickly then. "He got off at halftime against Australia and was suited to play and played the entire game, or most of the game against New Zealand without any question. 'It certainly wouldn't be a worry at the moment. James (Heaslip) has not made any contact yet. He will practice fully today and provided there is no reaction he should be available for selection. "They are extremely eager, absolutely: very eager to play." Fit-again Ulster lock Dan Tuohy has been withdrawn into Ireland's wider 36-man training squad. Fit-again Ulster lock Dan Tuohy was drafted back into Ireland's wider 36-man training squad for the last two weeks of Six Nations action. Ireland must win in Wales and Scotland to secure the Grand Slam and retain its title Six Nations - but, if you don't get hurt, will do so without the veteran center Gordon D'Arcy. The 35-year-old Leinster center has been omitted from Schmidt's training squad, with Ulster's Darren cave and Munster's Keith Earls providing midfield coverage. Team manager Kearney refused to accept D'Arcy's absence could trigger the end of his glittering 81-cap Test career though. His long-time center sparring partner Brian O'Driscoll retired last summer, but D'Arcy himself has always been determined to push for this year's World Cup. "It's a selection question, yes, Kearney of D'Arcy said absence. "Gordon has been an incredible servant for Irish rugby. "He's back in shape, playing for Leinster, so I wouldn't rule him out for future consideration." Both teams must consent to Saturday's Millennium Stadium match being played under a closed roof. Team manager Kearney said Ireland will delay its decision until later this week, basing it around the chances of rain. "We're waiting to see how the weather forecast is," Kearney said. We don't have to make a decision on that until 7:00 on Thursday. We'll wait until then before we make a final decision. I think we generally prefer a dry day and decent weather, rather than wet and miserable weather. 'In good weather we would prefer it to be open.'