Ireland's Six Nations title push has been hit by the loss of captain Caelan Doris for Saturday's clash with Wales. And, in a further blow to Simon Easterby's side, hooker Ronan Kelleher and prop Tadhg Furlong have also been ruled of the Cardiff showdown.

Ireland’s director of athletic performance Aled Walters is a man in possession of a gentle, sing-song Welsh accent and there were times when he was speaking last Friday that you stopped listening to the words and just tuned into the sound of it.

Doris and Kelleher were injured in the the 32-18 rout of Scotland in round two, while Furlong has yet to appear in this Six Nations having also missed the autumn because of a torn hamstring. The Championship’s only unbeaten side are optimistic that the absentees will recover in time for the March 8 title showdown with France.

Ireland skipper Caelan Doris was unable to take part in training with the squad on Friday with over a week to go until the resumption of the Six Nations.

Caelan Doris looks set to miss Ireland’s Six Nations clash against Wales in Cardiff and the Ireland captain is in a race to be fit for the all-important round-four meeting with France.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris and hooker Ronan Kelleher emerge as injury doubts for Saturday's Six Nations game against Wales.

Injuries sideline Ireland's captain Caelan Doris and hooker Ronan Kelleher, with prop Tadhg Furlong still out, for the upcoming Six Nations match against Wales. Jack Conan is likely to take on a leading role,

Ireland will be without captain Caelan Doris and hooker Ronan Kelleher for this weekend's Six Nations clash with Wales due to injury, and prop Tadhg Furlong is also still unavailable for selection. Doris picked up a knee injury in Ireland's most recent match,

Ireland will be down a couple of key men when they travel to Cardiff to take on Wales in the Six Nations, with two Leinster stars ruled out of contention for next Saturday’s action. Interim head coach Simon Easterby takes his side to the Principality Stadium this weekend bidding to secure a Triple Crown success

Ireland skipper Caelan Doris and hooker Ronan Kelleher have both been ruled out of Saturday's Six Nations Test against Wales in Cardiff due to injury.