JOHNNY SEXTON WILL sit out training again this afternoon as the out-half faces a race against time to be fit for Leinster’s Champions Cup visit to Montpellier on Sunday.
The Ireland international missed last Saturday’s bonus-point win over Castres after feeling a tightness in his hamstring in training.
Sexton began the rehabilitation process at the weekend but the prospect of him making a full recovery in time for the province’s second Pool 4 clash is slim, particularly given Ireland’s busy November schedule.
“With Johnny there is some issue with his hamstring, we’re going to see how he goes through the week,” Leinster forwards coach, John Fogarty, said this afternoon. “I’m not quite sure with Johnny.
“I’ll listen to the doctors and physios and they’ll give us a report and then it’s kind of vague and sometimes it can be like that. Other players will get through it and sometimes they can’t.
“Lets see how he is tomorrow. He’ll train tomorrow, Thursday is off and Friday is a last training session so if he’s back by Friday and hopefully he gets through that and he’ll play but it’s a matter of getting to Friday and I think that’s what they’re working hard on now.
“They won’t risk Johnny full stop. They’ll assess him today, see how he is. Try and get him to Friday but if there’s any issue he won’t be involved. We’re not going to take a risk on Johnny. We’re going to work very, very closely with Ireland as well.”
Leo Cullen will definitely be without Rhys Ruddock for the trip to France after the flanker suffered a calf tear in the second half against Castres. He’ll be reassessed before the clash with Connacht on Saturday 29 October.
Tadhg Furlong felt a tightness in his hamstring in the RDS and was withdrawn shortly before half-time. The injury isn’t as bad as first feared but he’s unlikely to be involved this weekend.
However, Sean O’Brien and Jack Conan are available for selection after coming through the British and Irish Cup game against Richmond unscathed. Mike McCarthy is also fully fit.
Dave Kearney and Richardt Strauss are being closely monitored while Ed Byrne, Fergus McFadden, Billy Dardis and Ian Fitzpatrick remain long-term absentees.
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