Ireland duo Ryan Baird and Jamie Osborne set to miss start of 2026 Six Nations

Edward Elliot, PA

Ireland pair Ryan Baird and Jamie Osborne are set to miss the start of the 2026 Six Nations through injury.

Forward Baird has been ruled out for up to three months with a leg issue sustained during Saturday’s 24-13 loss to South Africa.

Leinster team-mate Osborne will be sidelined for up to four months after injuring a shoulder in his country’s 41-10 victory over Japan on November 8.

Ireland begin the Six Nations on Thursday, February 5 with a trip to holders France.

Speaking after the loss to the Springboks, Ireland boss Andy Farrell said Baird suffered a suspected fractured tibia.

The 26-year-old initially attempted to play through the pain before being replaced by Jack Conan with 20 minutes remaining.

Following the retirement of former Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony, Baird has started his country’s last six Test matches at blindside flanker, having won 20 of his previous 27 caps as a replacement.

An update from Leinster on Monday afternoon read: “Ryan Baird is unavailable for selection after picking up a leg injury in the game against South Africa at the weekend and will be unavailable for up to three months.

“Jamie Osborne will be unavailable for up to four months.”

Ireland wing Tommy O’Brien, who sustained a head injury against South Africa, and centre Robbie Henshaw (hamstring) will also miss Leinster’s United Rugby Championship fixture away to Dragons on Friday.

Lock Joe McCarthy has “entered the final stages of his rehabilitation” after breaking a foot bone and will undergo further assessment.

Ireland are also awaiting a fitness update on Mack Hansen.

The Connacht back, 27, has suffered a recurrence of the foot issue which caused him to miss the defeat to New Zealand and victory over Japan earlier this month.

Head coach Farrell has plenty to ponder following a bruising outing against the Springboks but insists he has no concerns about Ireland’s scrum.

South Africa outmuscled the hosts en route to a first Dublin win since 2012, with the majority of their 12 scrums forcing penalties.

Ill-disciplined Ireland conceded 18 penalties across a frenetic encounter during which James Ryan was sent off and Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley, Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy were sin-binned.

“If you look at our scrum over the last five or six years, it’s been world-class at times,” said Farrell.

“There’s a (British and Irish) Lions front row in there (Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong), so that’s not been an issue for us at all.

“It’s been a strength for us and we pride ourselves on that. Sometimes they (South Africa) catch you.

“They’ve caught plenty of other teams and the momentum, they kept on going for the blood, didn’t they?”

Ireland’s ambitions of building on wins over Japan and Australia were dealt a major blow when lock Ryan was dismissed in the 20th minute for an illegal clearout on world player of the year Malcolm Marx.

“He’s gutted, he’s upset, he apologised to the group,” Farrell said of Ryan.

“There was other things that went on within the game as well that we need to address. It’s not just one man’s doing by far. We’re all in this together.”