RUGBY/European Cup: Leinster suffered a serious blow ahead of Saturday's Heineken European Cup match against Bath at the RDS with the confirmation that Denis Hickie sustained a dislocated right fibula following a freak accident in a routine training drill on Monday evening at Anglesea Road.
The Lions and Ireland international underwent surgery in St Vincent's Hospital Dublin yesterday and the player is now recovering at home. Bill Quinlan, father of Northampton Saints and former Leinster centre David, carried out the operation and the prognosis is that the player could be back on the pitch this side of Christmas, although the injury can take up to three months to heal.
The injury will rule Hickie of the opening European Cup pool games against Bath and Glasgow as well as Ireland's November international series. Injury has been more than the occasional bedfellow for Ireland's top wing with a broken jaw and torn Achilles tendon among the more serious that have pockmarked his career.
It is a cruel blow for Leinster coach Michael Cheika who must already plan without Lions, Ireland and Leinster captain Brian O'Driscoll and Australian born outhalf Christian Warner, the latter will be out for a month. It means that the Irish province will have to reshuffle their backline resources ahead of the Saturday's match.
Felipe Contepomi is set to replace Warner as he did during the Celtic League victory over Cardiff. Other possible, albeit unlikely options would see UCD's Eoghan Hickey wearing the number 10 jersey or Brian O'Meara, who has occasionally filled that role in the past. Hickey played in a couple of pre-season friendlies and an A game for the province in England.
Cheika has a number of permutations to consider. Shane Horgan started on the right wing against Cardiff and if he stays there then Kieran Lewis should come in to partner Gordon D'Arcy in the centre.
If Horgan moves to the centre then it will mean that both wing positions have to be filled: Lewis is equally adept in that position while Robert Kearney seems certain to start on one flank. Utility back Johnny Hepworth, who arrived from British League club Castleford Tigers about 10 days ago, could make Saturday's match squad.
Blackrock College wing Gary Brown, who scored two tries and performed superbly in Leinster A's recent victory over Cambridge University, is not registered for European competition. In an ideal world Cheika would prefer to keep Contepomi in the centre where he has flourished, comfortably being Leinster's best player this season.
Expediency suggests that the Argentinian will be deployed in the pivot position with the outside backs interchanging depending on field positions.
The knock-on effect of Hickie's injury in terms of the national team could see Ulster's young right wing Tommy Bowe claim one of the two berths for Ireland's opening game in the November series against New Zealand at Lansdowne Road on November 12th.
Connacht's Conor McPhillips, Munster duo Anthony Horgan and John Kelly, Gavin Duffy (Harlequins) and Lewis would also come into contention. It means that the next two weekends of European competition could be pivotal to nudging ahead in the pecking order.
Meanwhile, Ulster coach Mark McCall was encumbered by injury problems when deciding his team for Friday night's European fare at Ravenhill. The Irish province take on Italian side Benetton Treviso but were denied the services of scrumhalf Kieran Campbell and replacements hooker Paul Shields. Campbell came off at half-time in the Celtic League victory over the Border Reivers with a calf problem.
He failed to recover in time so his place goes to New Zealand-born, Irish passport holder Isaac Boss. The former Waikato and Wellington Hurricane player scored a second half try the last day and now gets his chance to boss the pack. Reece Spee is drafted in as scrumhalf cover.
There are three changes on the replacements bench. Nigel Brady comes in as replacement hooker to cover Shields, the latter sustaining a knee injury in the Borders match, Campbell Feather is included in place of Stephen Ferris while Paul Steinmetz, who suffered a fractured jaw against Edinburgh, has received clearance from the medical personnel to resume his competitive career.
Munster will today confirm their match squad for their trip to face the Sale Sharks at Edgeley Road on Friday night. It is expected to include Peter Stringer, the Irish scrumhalf having resumed training quicker than anticipated following a knee injury.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, K Maggs, J Topping; D Humphreys, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best, S Best (capt); J Harrison, M McCullough; N Best, N McMillan, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady, B Young, R Frost, C Feather, R Spee, P Wallace, P Steinmetz.
