Ireland’s preparations for their opening Six Nations match with France on Saturday continue to be overshadowed by events off the pitch with head coach Joe Schmidt refusing to comment on his captain Rory Best’s controversial decision to attend the rape trial of Ulster and Ireland team mates Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.

Best was photographed arriving at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday as the trial reached its second day and the alleged victim entered the witness stand.

The hooker, who will win his 107th cap against France, was accompanied by Iain Henderson, who will start behind him in the second row on Saturday, as well as Ulster and Ireland winger Craig Gilroy who is currently injured.

Asked whether he had given Best and Henderson permission to attend the trial, Schmidt answered: "I've got no comment on any of that. We're not in a position to comment on any of that. It's a legal matter.”

Schmidt has named a team which will feature three Six Nations debutants on Saturday in Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale, Connacht centre Bundee Aki and lock James Ryan, who has been selected ahead of his more experienced Leinster team mate Devin Toner.