Farrell calls up Connacht forward as Ulster trio rejoin Ireland squad

Andy Farrell has called up Connacht forward Dave Heffernan as injury cover as Ireland emerged from their Guinness Six Nations opener against Wales all but unscathed.

Ireland eased past the reigning champions 29-7, picking up where they left off in November with a comfortable victory in front of a packed Aviva Stadium.

Heffernan covers for Ulster hooker Rob Herring who is available for the Round 2 trip to Paris on account of a "calf issue". Other than Herring, Farrell will enjoy a relatively full deck of cards to choose from.

A statement from the IRFU reads: "Rob Herring is unavailable for selection this weekend with a calf issue and Dave Heffernan has joined the squad.

"Keith Earls will continue his hamstring rehab in Munster over the coming weeks and his progress will be assessed as the Championship progresses.

"Ulster trio Michael Lowry, Robert Baloucoune and Nick Timoney have re-joined the squad having featured for Ulster against Connacht in the URC on Friday evening."

Ireland face arguably their toughest assignment of the tournament when they face Fabien Galthie's star-studded  Les Bleus at the Stade de France next Saturday.

“We know how difficult it is to go to Paris,” said Farrell ahead of the daunting trip to France this coming weekend. “We are lucky, I suppose, to be on a winning run.

“You are always hungry to get off to a good start and we have managed to do that. We will lick our wounds and we will prepare properly for the French test.

“It is the test of all tests isn’t it, at this moment in time? Everyone knows how well they are playing.”

UPDATED IRELAND SQUAD:

BACKS

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 34 caps

Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 2 caps

Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 28 caps

Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 10 caps

Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 4 caps

Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 28 caps

Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 13 caps

Mack Hansen (Connacht) 1 cap

Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 53 caps

James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps

Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 17 caps

Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps

Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped

Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 93 caps

Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps

Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 102 caps CAPTAIN

FORWARDS:

Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 7 caps

Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 19 caps

Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 26 caps

Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 23 caps

Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps

Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 13 caps

Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 53 caps

Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 113 caps

Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 6 caps

Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 65 caps

Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 17 caps

Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 45 caps

Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 80 caps

Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 2 caps

Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 41 caps

James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 41 caps

Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 3 caps

Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps

Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 3 caps

Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 36 caps