LEINSTER’S DEFENCE COACH Kurt McQuilkin was a man prepared as he emerged to face the media in UCD this afternoon, coming equipped with an injury update to reel off before the question was even asked.
The health of Jamie Heaslip was naturally high on the agenda after he was forced off just six minutes into the province’s win at Ospreys on Friday with blood coming from his lip.
Encouragingly, Heaslip was ‘bouncing’ around Leinster HQ on Monday morning and McQuilkin doesn’t expect the number eight to be a doubt for Ireland’s Six Nations opener on 7 February.
“Jamie took a bang on the head, he’s going to follow the return to play protocols,” McQuilkin said, as he read from the pre-prepared update.
“He’s bouncing around the place this morning, he’s in good form but we have to follow those return to play protocols and hopefully in a couple of weeks he’ll be grand.
“He’s fine, he’s very lucid and was pretty lucid after it too but you have to be very careful in these situations.
Heaslip left the pitch, accompanied by team doctor Ciaran Cosgrave, bloodied and bruised and the immediate concern was that he would miss Ireland’s clash with Wales in four week’s time.
The 32-year-old will sit out Leinster’s Champions Cup game against Bath this Saturday and McQuilkin admits it’s still too early to determine the length of his absence.
“I’m hoping he’ll be fit because I’m an Irish rugby fan too. I’m sure he’ll be grand but it is a case of wait and see.”
The other injury concern to emerge from the eastern province’s 22-9 win at the Liberty Stadium was Luke Fitzgerald. The back was forced off in the second-half with a shoulder problem but McQuilkin doesn’t believe it’s serious.
“Lukey got a stinger on his shoulder so we’re just going to assess him over the week and see how things go there,” he continued.
“He got caught awkwardly and copped a stinger and it’s nothing major, it’s just something he has to work through or off and get things back working again.”
There is positive news on the fitness of Isaac Boss, who should return to training this week after a hamstring injury but Mike Ross remains ‘a couple of weeks’ away from full health and Cian Healy remains sidelined too.
The prop had an elective procedure on his right knee last week and is expected to be unavailable for three to four weeks.
Leinster return to European action this weekend after embarking on a run of seven straight Pro12 victories.
There is nothing but pride on the line for Leo Cullen’s men against Bath at the RDS but McQuilkin insists there’s a couple of motivating factors for the side.
“The one thing that is a driving factor is we want to go out and put in a performance for our supporters,” he explained.
“We had Wasps here earlier in the season and they pretty much put us to the sword and it wasn’t a very nice feeling and it’s not something we want to happen to us again so there’s a lot of motivation to go out there this weekend and put the job right.
“It’s something we can get our teeth into and have a go at these guys. We were reasonably unlucky at the Rec but you make your own luck.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge and it’s not about redemption, it’s about going out and playing well.”
Leinster, three-time European champions, have endured a miserable Pool 5 campaign having lost all four outings but they’ll be keen to right the wrongs of previous failings and continue their winning run this weekend.
Kick-off at the RDS on Saturday is at 5.30pm.
