Celtic League: Brian O'Driscoll will take over as captain of Leinster from Reggie Corrigan having been invited to do so by coach Michael Cheika. It didn't take O'Driscoll too long to mull over the offer and he expressed his delight yesterday at the opportunity handed to him.
The Lions and Ireland captain will now fulfil a similar remit at provincial level, although his initial input will be from the other side of the whitewash until he recovers from his shoulder injury.
It's six weeks since the infamous double "tackle" during the first Test between the Lions and New Zealand that left O'Driscoll with a dislocated shoulder.
"I suppose I'm a little bit ahead of schedule," he ventured, but wasn't about to be drawn into crystal ball gazing and the provision of a return date to competitive fare. "There's no miracle cure. I going to listen to the physios and take their advice. It's a gradual process."
O'Driscoll smiled in fielding the suggestion that his rehabilitation has involved a little bit of pain. "I suppose you could say it hasn't all been plain sailing," before later adding that he had to endure manipulation of the damaged joint prompting pain "that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy". He has set himself "small targets", but won't elaborate further on a timescale.
And he admitted that he was looking forward to his new role as Leinster captain, pointing out that it was a different responsibility from the national position as he would have the new responsibility on a day-to-day basis rather than just dipping in and out. "Obviously for a few months I won't be involved (in a playing capacity), but will be able to offer a different point of view."
In his absence Cheika has elected to nominate a leadership team to assist O'Driscoll in his duties comprised of Malcolm O'Kelly, Felipe Contepomi, Denis Hickie, Keith Gleeson and Guy Easterby.
There are marginally more personnel in Leinster's squad (29) for Sunday's opening Celtic League match against defending champions, the Neath/Swansea Ospreys, than 1970s disco/pop combo Kool & The Gang. It's a close-run thing though.
The current climate in selecting professional teams is to name large squads and then whittle away as the week progresses. Leinster coach Michael Cheika has intimated that by tomorrow morning he should be in a position to confirm his match squad.
Two players have already been ruled out through injury - scrumhalf Brian O'Riordan and former captain Corrigan - while there is a mild concern with regard to hooker David Blaney.
A recipient of a straight arm to the head in last Friday's friendly against Northampton Blaney will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness.
Cheika will be able to call upon Des Dillon and Eric Miller for their first competitive outings this season. Contepomi will captain Leinster for the Ospreys match, the articulate, affable Argentinian a shrewd operator and the fulcrum of his team's midfield. He has captained his country, once, to a deservedly celebrated draw against the Lions at the Millennium Stadium earlier in the year.
The indication is that the Ospreys will be without their Lions players, including Gavin Henson, but will be able to call upon summer signing Llanelli centre Leigh Davies.
They too won't name their side until closer to the weekend, but it's unlikely to affect interest in the game. For a recent friendly against Wasps, the Ospreys drew a crowd of 18,412 and expect an attendance in excess of 10,000 for Sunday's clash.
It was confirmed that a new open-seating stand at the Bective end of Donnybrook will be erected in time for Leinster's Celtic League game against Glasgow on Saturday week.
The new structure will have 1,100 seats and those looking to sit rather than stand there will have to pay an additional €5 on the admission money.
LEINSTER SQUAD: G Easterby, B O'Meara, F Contepomi (capt), C Warner, D McAllister, E Hickey, G Brown, B Burke, J Norton, G Dempsey, K Lewis, R Kearney, B Jackman, D Blaney, B Blaney, J Lyne, J Wickham, E Byrne, R McCormack, W Green, A Byrnes, B Gissing, D Dillon, C Potts, J Heaslip, K Gleeson, S Crawford, N Ronan, E Miller.
