The hooker has a stomach bug but as of yet has not been ruled out of tomorrows' match.
A slow start cost Joe Schmidt's side last week against Scotland but former Munster and Ireland forward Tipperary man Alan Quinlan doesn't expect the same mistakes to be repeated this time around.
Meanwhile, Ireland's U20s face Italy in the Six Nations this evening – the match at the Stadio Enrico Chersoni in Prato begins at 6 o'clock.
