LEINSTER SKILLS COACH Richie Murphy today offered assurances over the fitness of Brian O’Driscoll and three international front rows ahead of this weekend’s Heineken Cup quarter-final away to Toulon.
Neither Healy or McGrath featured in Saturday’s 22 – 18 win over Munster, while O’Driscoll left the encounter with a neck injury after scoring the game’s only try.
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Though today’s session at UCD came too soon for the veteran centre, Murphy and Leinster’s fitness staff are confident that all three will be fully recovered for Sunday’s meeting with the European Champions.
“All the guys are back fit and healthy,” said Murphy, “they are not all training. They are on modified training loads. They will all be back ready for the weekend.
“(A Sunday fixture) gives us an extra day recovery after what was a very physical match at the weekend. It also gives those guys who missed last week a little bit longer time (to get back). As I say, injury-wise we are looking good.”
Murphy also moved to downplay a slight worry over Rob Kearney, who wore protective strapping having had his hand ‘stamped’ on.
With Martin Moore also expected to return to the fold, Murphy expects a full deck to be available to head coach Matt O’Connor when he selects his starting XV to face into one of European rugby’s most daunting challenges.
“As long as we look after the guys during the week, they should be all ready to perform by Thursday/Friday and ready to go for the match on Sunday.”
O'Driscoll, Healy and McGrath will be ready to go when Leinster visit Toulon
LEINSTER SKILLS COACH Richie Murphy today offered assurances over the fitness of Brian O’Driscoll and three international front rows ahead of this weekend’s Heineken Cup quarter-final away to Toulon.
Neither Healy or McGrath featured in Saturday’s 22 – 18 win over Munster, while O’Driscoll left the encounter with a neck injury after scoring the game’s only try.
Though today’s session at UCD came too soon for the veteran centre, Murphy and Leinster’s fitness staff are confident that all three will be fully recovered for Sunday’s meeting with the European Champions.
“(A Sunday fixture) gives us an extra day recovery after what was a very physical match at the weekend. It also gives those guys who missed last week a little bit longer time (to get back). As I say, injury-wise we are looking good.”
Murphy also moved to downplay a slight worry over Rob Kearney, who wore protective strapping having had his hand ‘stamped’ on.
With Martin Moore also expected to return to the fold, Murphy expects a full deck to be available to head coach Matt O’Connor when he selects his starting XV to face into one of European rugby’s most daunting challenges.
“As long as we look after the guys during the week, they should be all ready to perform by Thursday/Friday and ready to go for the match on Sunday.”
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briand o'driscoll Cian Healy European Rugby Champions Cup H Cup Jack McGrath Leinster Toulon