HEINEKEN CUP: LEINSTER CAPTAIN Leo Cullen looks set to return for Leinster's match against Saracens at Wembley Stadium this Saturday while the medical staff refused to rule out Brian O'Driscoll yesterday despite the Irish captain seemingly tearing his hamstring in the bonus-point victory over Racing Metro 92 last Saturday.
“He had a scan and that revealed a more positive outlook than we expected,” said forwards coach Jonno Gibbes. “It’s still not a definitive answer but we’ll let it settle down over the next couple of days and get a clearer idea at the end of the week, but the positive thing is that he hasn’t been definitively ruled out.”
Considering O’Driscoll’s past record with hamstring problems, albeit a few seasons now since the last explosion, it still seems highly unlikely he will make it back within seven days. “Yeah, we all saw the stress he was in and the discomfort, certainly after the game,” Gibbes continued. “He’s dealt with hamstrings before and he had a bit of a gut feeling about this one. But the scans have revealed a bit more positive news but there’s no definitive answer.”
O’Driscoll was not present at Leinster training in UCD yesterday but the man himself did confirm, via his Twitter account, he was undergoing an MRI and tweeted on Sunday: “Hopeful hamstring injury not as bad as first thought. Would be gutted if I missed Wembley next week.”
The Cullen situation is more clearcut. Back in light training for several weeks now, the chief lineout organiser will take some physical contact this week in training and should the shoulder he damaged at the end of last season come through that he will be asked his own opinion.
Devon Toner has given recent indications he is growing into a decent middle-of-the-line jumper but the 24-year-old has essentially been asked to fill the shoes of retired Irish legend Malcolm O’Kelly. Toner may be six foot 10 inches but those are some shoes to fill.
Considering former England captain Steve Borthwick runs one of the most impressive lineouts in the English Premiership, Cullen’s return at this juncture would seem ideal. “Everyone knows Leo’s track record and what he offers to the team. It’d be great to have him for what will be a pretty hostile game at Wembley. Saracens were unlucky not to get some points out of the Clermont game. Leo’s temperament and leadership skills would be great to have. Again we’ll make the decision later in the week after we see him get through a bit of work,” said Gibbes.
Thursday appears to be D-Day for Cullen and O’Driscoll as the squad travels to London on Friday morning. It still seems highly likely O’Driscoll will not be risked at all this month as to further damage his hamstring would potentially rule him out of the opening Test at the Aviva Stadium against South Africa on November 6th. “I’m sure the Irish medical team will liaise with the Leinster medical team and I think everyone will be in the picture,” added Gibbes.
Should O’Driscoll fail to recover, Fergus McFadden is front of the queue to take over at outside centre after a try-scoring cameo against Racing. However, the former Clongowes Wood schoolboy tends to operate at inside centre when paired with Eoin O’Malley, Leinster’s other understudy to the D’Arcy/O’Driscoll axis.
Genuine good news for Leinster and Ireland is that Jonathan Sexton feels able to resume place-kicking duties at Wembley after leaving it with Isa Nacewa last Saturday to ensure his calf strain was fully recovered.
Elsewhere, Connacht hooker Adrian Flavin (badly bruised forearm) is the main concern ahead of the Amlin Challenge Cup meeting with Bayonne at the Sportsground on Friday. Seán Cronin, Gavin Duffy and Jamie Hagen are expected to return to the starting XV as Eric Elwood’s men seek to atone for the surprise 23-21 defeat in Italy against newcomers I Cavalieri Estra.
Irish referee George Clancy has been criticised for failing to apply the correct protocol in the lead-up to Wasps winger David Lemi scoring a crucial try in the 18-16 defeat to Toulouse last Sunday. Reports state Clancy appeared to not award a try until Lemi protested, at which point he referred matters to the television match official. The try was subsequently allowed.
Didier Mené, the head of French referees, told L’Equipe: “If he had doubts about the try, he should stop play immediately. Allowing this to take place in the game before looking back creates a far too confusing situation.”
