Joe Schmidt hasn't had to much to be happy about this Christmas.
He's seen Mike Ross get injured, Ian Madigan is fecking off to France from next season, and Irish rugby is still suffering a whopping hangover from our World Cup exit.
But at least Pat Lam has some good news.
The Connacht coach may have just uttered a few words that should make Schmidt, and most Irish rugby fans, a bit more optimistic about our Six Nations hopes.
The Ireland team gather in Carton House this Sunday to begin preparations for the 2016 tournament, and Robbie Henshaw now looks like he will be fir to start at centre for our opening game in February.
The Connacht man had suffered an arm injury in the famous win over Munster in Thomond Park, and was rated doubtful for Ireland's opening Six Nations game against Wales.
However his coach feels that Henshaw will make a return to action in early January, if a scan goes well later this week.
"He’ll get another x-ray in the next week or so to see how the bone’s healing. So obviously he is not available this week."
“There is a possibility of maybe the Scarlets game but it may be the Challenge Cup. Obviously you don’t want to take any risks until that’s firmly healed."
“The surgeon wants to do another x-ray to see, and we will know more from there."
