Ireland have notched up wins against Canada and Romania so far, but face tougher tests against Italy and France in the next two weeks and would hope to have likely starter Kearney available for selection.

The full-back injured himself shortly after taking to the field in the second-half at Wembley this evening, scoring a try in the process.

"Rob was involved in high-speed play immediately after coming on to the pitch,” Schmidt said in the post-match press conference.

“Just after scoring the try he’s jarred himself up a little bit. We’d be hopeful it’s not too much.

“I guess the next 24 to 48 hours will tell whether he’s done anything.”

Reporters pushed Schmidt as to the exact nature of the injury, but he said it was a matter of waiting to see how the player recovers in the next day or so.

“The pain is through his glute and his hip,” he explained. “It might have been when his knee hit the ground.

“So we are icing up his glute. We will have a better picture tomorrow or Tuesday."

“We are hopeful at this stage he will be OK.”

He was more positive on the outlook for man of the match Keith Earls, who had a knock to the head during the match.

“Keith Earls was fine,” Schmidt said.

“He passed his HIA (Head Injury Assessment) and was put back on the field.

“The plan was to replace him with Rob Kearney with 20 minutes to go, but Keith should be fine.”

Shaun Cronin, head sports reporter of breakingnews.ie spoke to the Irish Examiner's rugby correspondent Simon Lewis after the game.

Video by Dan Linehan.