Rugby World Cup:Tommy Bowe is likely to join Paul O'Connell and Gordon D'Arcy in the stands this weekend with all three still receiving treatment for injuries picked up against Australia. Ireland tackle Russia in Rotorua on Sunday but the trio will almost certainly be kept in reserve for the final Pool C meeting with Italy.

D’Arcy and, to a lesser extent Bowe, could probably do with the game time having missed much of the pre-season with separate injuries but the risk of deploying them against Russia outweighs the reward.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney will instead look to rotate his squad when he names his starting line-up tomorrow morning and team manager Paul McNaughton confirmed the trio are unlikely to be risked.

“Paul and Gordon had scans on their hamstrings while Tommy had a scan on his calf strain,” said McNaughton. “Those three players remain under treatment. If they are to be considered for the game on Sunday they need to train tomorrow.

“At the moment that looks doubtful, but no decision over their participation will be made until after training.”

McNaughton also took the opportunity to put the Ronan O’Gara issue to bed as talk of his retirement, or not, threatened to overshadow the Russia match.

“As far as we’re concerned, he’s confirmed that retirement wasn’t on the agenda. We’re happy with that,” he said. “Based on what he said yesterday it was never on the agenda. I think he was definitive.

“After the World Cup a fresh four-year cycle begins. A number of players have said this will be their last World Cup based on their age. Over the next four years you’re going to have a cycle of retirements of players and an emergence of young players, that’s the natural cycle.

“Guys will assess after the World Cup as Ronan said, but we’ve had no indication from any players about impending retirements. It’s not an issue.”