LUKE FITZGERALD PULLED out of Leinster’s Guinness Pro12 meeting with Treviso in Italy this afternoon as a preventative measure following the team’s warm-up.

The 27-year-old was set to start in the 13 shirt for Matt O’Connor’s side, but was replaced at the last minute by Brendan Macken, with Mick McGrath included on the bench.

Fitzgerald finished the warm-up but was withdrawn as a precautionary measure, according to the Irish province. The outside back felt tightness in his groin and Leinster’s coaching and medical staff agreed that there was no point in risking further aggravation of the issue.

27-times capped Ireland international Fitzgerald has played twice for Leinster this season, starting on the wing against Castres in the Champions Cup on 26 October and then against Edinburgh in the Pro12 on 31 October.

His most recent Ireland appearance was as a replacement in the November 2013 defeat to New Zealand in Dublin.

Fitzgerald had surgery on his groin in June of this year, when surgeon Gerry McEntee also repaired his lower abs.

Leinster will hope that this is only a minor setback for the wonderfully skilled Fitzgerald, and that he will be fit to face the Ospreys at the RDS next Saturday.

Schmidt’s Ireland are a big threat going into the World Cup – Cheika

This classy chip from Beauden Barrett helped the All Blacks to beat Wales