RUGBY HEINEKEN CUP:LEO CULLEN will not start for Leinster tomorrow against Saracens at Wembley Stadium but is expected to feature off the bench.
A final decision on Brian O’Driscoll’s availability has been put off until the release of the team-sheet this morning.
O’Driscoll has yet to train with the team since pulling up with a hamstring problem in last Saturday’s bonus-point win over Racing Metro 92 at the RDS Showgrounds. “He’s recovering really well, he’s been in rehab all week,” said assistant coach Richie Murphy. “He’s probably 50-50 whether he’ll make it at the weekend. When he came off, he alluded to the fact that it wasn’t as bad as it had been before. The scans have shown that to be the case. There is a chance he’ll be there at the weekend.”
Fergus McFadden appears to be front of the queue to come in as a straight swap for the Irish captain but, again, this is uncertain as new Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has used him primarily as an inside centre with Eoin O’Malley at 13 when O’Driscoll was still in preseason.
With Isa Nacewa and Shane Horgan seemingly fighting over the number 14 jersey, it is conceivable that one of these experienced players could be utilised in midfield alongside Gordon D’Arcy.
Either way, Murphy was adamant the uncertainty over O’Driscoll’s fitness 48 hours out from such an important away fixture is not a hindrance to Leinster’s preparations. “I don’t think it is that disruptive at all,” said Murphy. “Obviously we know what Brian brings but we are lucky in the situation that we have other players that are coming up behind him are at a very high level and will be able to slot in if needed.”
Regarding the possibility of O’Driscoll further damaging his hamstring, an injury that has been a recurring theme throughout his career, especially with a view to his availability to lead Ireland out against world champions South Africa on November 6th, Murphy added: “From our point of view, and what’s in the best interest for Brian and for Irish rugby, if there is a doubt over him tomorrow he will know himself. If there is a doubt he won’t be used.”
Naturally Saracens will be interested in what midfield partnership is announced before today’s ERC noon deadline as it is no secret that Leinster’s opposition tend to shape their defensive game plan around the man.
Yet to feature this season, Cullen’s lack of match fitness to go a full 80 minutes means Nathan Hines will be partnered by Devin Toner in the secondrow as the same eight that squared up to Racing are due to take the field.
In good news for both Leinster and Ireland, Jonny Sexton will be back on place-kicking duty despite a decent return from Nacewa when the outhalf was recuperating from a quad problem.
“He kicked today and will kick tomorrow. Because he hasn’t been kicking, we’ve been working on other aspects around his kicking, pre-kick routine and stuff like that,” explained Murphy, who was a decent place-kicker himself during his playing days for Greystones, Clontarf, Carlow and Old Belvedere and is Leinster’s specialist coach in this department.
“He wants to get kicking. It always feels a little funny when you’re not up there. We’ve all done the right thing by him, the extra couple of weeks were needed because a quad is a kicker’s injury. It will stand to him.”
Jamie Heaslip is expected to retain the captaincy while Cullen is benched, as the Lions number eight held off Shane Jennings for the honour last week having reminded coach Schmidt of his 100 per cent record as team leader.
