Ireland call in reinforcements

Seven players have been called up to the Ireland training squad after a bruising weekend of Pro12 action.

The injury of most concern was to Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll who turned his ankle in Leinster’s emphatic win over the Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

After undergoing a scan on the injury, it was revealed that the damage was less severe than anticipated and his progress will be monitored.

To cover this and other minor injuries, four extra backs have been added to the squad with Ulster trio Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson and Paul Marshall joining Connacht wing Tiernan O'Halloran in the Ireland camp.

Due to a knock that Rory Best suffered during Ulster's win in Newport, Sean Cronin has also been added to the squad.

Declan Fitzpatrick, who played for Ulster at the weekend, will join the camp along with tighthead prop Michael Bent, who is Irish-qualified through his maternal grandmother.

The Leinster signing has been playing regularly for Taranaki in the ITM Cup in New Zealand.

Ireland will face South Africa (November 10), Fiji (November 17) and Argentina (November 24) in their three-Test home series.

Ireland squad additions: Sean Cronin (Leinster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Paul Marshall (Ulster), Tiernan O'Halloran (Connacht), Michael Bent (Leinster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster).