SEÁN O’BRIEN IS battling to shake off a hip injury in a bid to line out for Leinster one final time in Saturday’s Guinness Pro14 final against Glasgow Warriors.
The flanker missed last weekend’s semi-final win over Munster after failing to come through the training week, and remains a major fitness doubt for the decider at Celtic Park [KO 6.30pm, eir Sport/Premier Sports].
O’Brien, who will move to London Irish next year, has endured another injury-plagued season having started just seven games for Leinster this term, including the Champions Cup final defeat to Saracens.
Although he didn’t specify what the issue was, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen last week said he hoped O’Brien would be fit and available should his side progress through to the Pro14 final.
But the Ireland international faces a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of Friday’s team announcement after missing training at UCD yesterday afternoon.
“Seán O’Brien, he’s recovering from a hip problem or injury,” Felipe Contepomi confirmed on Monday. “He’s working hard to be selectable.”
O’Brien has previously been beset by a hip injury and was forced to undergo surgery on the issue back in January 2018, while his misfortune continued last November when he broke his arm against Argentina.
Leinster are more optimistic over the fitness of Rob Kearney for this weekend after the fullback missed the last-four win over Munster with what has now been confirmed as a head knock.
Kearney sustained the injury against Sarries at St James’ Park and was forced to go through the return to play protocols last week. While passing all stages and partaking in Friday’s captain’s run, Leinster decided against risking the 33-year-old.
“Rob had that return to play. He is training today and should be selectable,” Contepomi added.
Leinster will definitely be without Devin Toner this weekend due to the knee injury he sustained on Saturday, and while the second row awaits further scan results, it’s understood the damage is not severe enough to compromise his World Cup ambitions.
Toner is expected to be sidelined for a period of four to six weeks, and in his absence, Scott Fardy is set to partner James Ryan in the Leinster second row in Glasgow.
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He’s not as disappointed as some on relation to how far off they are? They are miles off. No offence to Munster but they are an average,though very gutsy and committed side,and they have hammers Leinster twice in a row now. I do agree that they haven’t had any continuity with combinations,especially from 9-13,and hopefully when the likes of OBrien, Healy, Moore, Teo, McFadden etc come back then there will be a big improvement.
I must take the opportunity to praise Matt O’Connor for the huge improvement in Guinness Pro12 teams. Ever since he arrived at Leinster, every other team has greatly improved. Teams, that two years ago were almost brushed aside by Leinster, have now reached the heights that Leinster once inhabited alone.
Treviso have improved, Munster have improved, Edinburgh have improved, Scarlets have improved, Dragons have improved, Zebra have improved, Connacht (brilliant tonight, by the way) have improved..
In fact, they have all improved so much that Leinster has great difficulty taking on any of them.
By extension, Wasps and Harlequins have shown just how brilliant they are too due to you Matt.
I can hardly wait to see how much Castres get better when they arrive at the RDS soon. They will build statues in your image all over the town.
Matt, you have done European rugby a great service. They have all reached and surpassed Leinster this season thanks to your input at Leinster and everywhere else.
Thank you Matt and Happy New year!.
(and also to Mr Caputo, the news paper seller. Your influence on all other teams has been exceptional)