Zebo takes compassionate leave

The 25-year-old Munster star – whose sparkling performance in Sunday's 44-10 rout of Romania thrust him back into contention for a starting place against Italy on Sunday – was given time off by coach Joe Schmidt after his grandfather John Geary died on Sunday.

Zebo attended the funeral on Tuesday and is to rejoin the squad as they prepare for their penultimate Pool D game against the Italians at Olympic Park.

The Irish won their first two games in convincing style. They coasted to a 50-5 win over Canada and victory over the Italians would assure them of a quarterfinal spot.

The crunch game for the Six Nations titleholders is the final one against unpredictable France which should decide who tops the pool. The runners-up will face the winners of Pool C, likely to be defending champions New Zealand.

AFP