LEINSTER ISSUED A positive injury report for three of the international stars who did not feature in Sunday’s Champions Cup opener against Wasps.
Perhaps most crucially, scrum coach Marco Caputo says they expect tighthead Mike Ross to shake off the ‘minor groin injury’ that kept him out of the 25 – 20 home win.
Rob Kearney is also ‘pencilled in’ to start in his favourite position despite being a late withdrawal from the starting line-up on two occasions this season with back trouble. Positive reports, but still not quite certain:
“We’ve got Mike pencilled in. The indications from the medical staff is that he will be available, both Mike and Rob Kearney,” said Caputo, adding that the full seven-day turnaround between matches may give them time to get the internationals fit and ready for the round two trip to Castres.
Caputo was slightly more certain when asked about Luke Fitzgerald. The 2009 Lion was named in Leinster’s matchday squad for the weekend, but was not among the four replacements called into action with the game delicately balanced.
Caputo, however, says Fitzgerald will once again pull on the number 23 jersey – if not something between 11 and 15.
“It was great to have him involved in the matchday 23. We’re looking to involve him again. If he comes through the week, he might even be putting his hand up to start the match.