Brian O’Driscoll amongst Leinster absentees for Scarlets game

Concussion to sideline centre as international players set for delayed return

Brian O’Driscoll watches on from the sidelines as the All Blacks score a try through Ryan Crotty in the last minute of the game at the  Aviva Stadium. Photograph:  Billy Stickland/Inpho
Brian O’Driscoll watches on from the sidelines as the All Blacks score a try through Ryan Crotty in the last minute of the game at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Ireland centre Brian O’Driscoll will not play in Leinster’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash against Scarlets at the RDS on Saturday night (7.15pm) after leaving last Sunday’s clash with New Zealand with concussion.

O’Driscoll was unlikely to feature anyway as those Leinster players who saw extensive action during the autumn internationals were set to miss the game against the Welsh side.

Rob and Dave Kearney, Gordon D'Arcy, Cian Healy, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Seán O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip were the other Leinster players to start the bruising encounter with the All Blacks, while hooker Seán Cronin came on early in the first half as a replacement for Rory Best after the Ulster player broke his arm.

Leinster could be bolstered by the return of Leo Cullen for the first time this season after the secondrow made positive strides in his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury over the last week.