Cullen: It’s A Huge Opportunity For The Players Who Are Fit

Ahead of Friday’s GUINNESS PRO12 match away to the Newport Gwent Dragons, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has provided an injury update on the squad.

In the defeat to Wasps last Saturday at the Ricoh Arena, Martin Moore picked up a hamstring injury which Leo Cullen confirmed would see him miss the next ‘six to eight weeks’..

There was also news on Isa Nacewa, who missed out on the game last weekend, with Cullen stating: “Isa Nacewa, he had a minor issue with his knee so he had a surgical procedure done last week. He’ll be out for two to three weeks.

“Mike Ross, Cian Healy and Collie O’Shea have been rehabbing the last number of weeks. They’re still a couple of weeks away.”

When asked about the possible availability of Ross and Healy for the game against the Dragons, Cullen confirmed they would not be taking part.

“They won’t be available for Dragons this week, then we’ve a break week, so we’ll see if we can get them back in for that Zebre game (at the RDS on February 12) depending on what the situation is with (Ireland’s) game that weekend.”

Tom Denton was due to feature in the Wasps match but a training ground injury has ruled him out for ‘a week or two’ according to Cullen.

It was also revealed that Royce Burke-Flynn will be out for four months after undergoing an operation on his neck last week.

Meanwhile, there was some good news on the health of Hayden Triggs as Cullen confirmed the Maori All Black ‘is getting close to being back’, but Mick Kearney and Jack Conan are still ‘three to four weeks away’ and Gavin Thornbury ‘will be a little bit longer’.

Looking ahead to the round 13 date with the Dragons, Cullen said: “We’ve a couple of Academy guys that are unavailable as well that would be considered for selection. That leaves us with the guts of 30-35 players probably unavailable this weekend, which is not an ideal situation, but that’s where we find ourselves. It creates a huge opportunity for the players who are fit.

“We’re going to have to place a lot of faith in the squad now. We’ve managed all those bodies accordingly. We’ll still have a strong team that runs out this weekend. There’s plenty to play for. Our attention just turns to the league now.”

Leinster’s fight for a GUINNESS PRO12 play-off spot continues at the RDS on Friday, February 12 against Zebre. Purchase your tickets online here.