O’Driscoll And Cullen Back In The Mix For Leinster
The Leinster squad trained in UCD on Monday as the province stepped up their preparations for Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with the Ospreys at RDS (kick-off 7.05pm).
Following the break in the calendar for Leinster over the last few weeks, the management are expected to be in a position to welcome back a number of players.
Brian O’Driscoll is progressing well after stepping up his rehab in recent weeks and may be fit for selection this week.
The province’s captain Leo Cullen is ahead of schedule and may also complete his comeback to the panel, following Achilles surgery in late January.
Kiwi out-half Mat Berquist successfully came through his first run-out for Leinster ‘A’ in their recent 50-0 victory over Connacht ‘A’ and is available, while recent signing Brad Thorn is also fit and available for selection after playing the first half of that win at Old Belvedere RFC.
Mike Ross will be assessed by the medical team after suffering a shoulder injury in Ireland’s defeat to England at Twickenham and the province are hopeful that the Cork tighthead prop will return for the away trip to Munster later this month.
With a number of players unavailable for the visit of the Ospreys after their exertions with Ireland over recent weeks, the Leinster management may call upon some of the lesser used Six Nations squad members for Friday’s game which could include the likes of Sean Cronin, Shane Jennings, David Kearney and Fergus McFadden.
Tickets sales for the Leinster v Ospreys encounter have passed the 16,700 mark. Tickets are on sale online here, and from the Leinster Rugby Store (Donnybrook), Spar (Donnybrook) and Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.