LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen admits the calf injury keeping Sean O’Brien sidelined has taken long to heal than expected with the flanker once again missing this weekend.
The Ireland international wasn’t included in the province’s matchday squad for Friday’s Champions Cup clash with Castres, further raising concerns over his fitness ahead of the Six Nations.
O’Brien sustained the ‘minor’ injury during Leinster’s Pro12 demolition of Zebre on 6 January but only felt the effects in training the week after.
Speaking in UCD this morning, Cullen said it was a ‘mild strain/tear’ of the calf and admitted the province thought he would have recovered in time for tomorrow’s clash in France.
“Sean in the Zebre game didn’t feel an incident but reported it when we came back in training that week about a bit of awareness (with regard) to his calf,” Cullen explained.
“We actually thought he would be okay to play the Montpellier game at the start of the week but it just hasn’t settled as quickly as we thought it would.
“It is just a mild strain/tear of his calf. Usually you turn those around quite quickly but it has been quite slow. That is why he misses out again this week.”
With Joe Schmidt set to name his extended Six Nations panel at the start of next week and Ireland’s opening game of the campaign against Scotland fast approaching, there are now serious question marks hanging over O’Brien’s availability.
Cullen is, however, confident that the 29-year-old will be back in time for the opening weekend of the championship on 4 February.
“Those [injuries] would not normally [keep a player out for that long] but I thought he would have been available this week it’s been a bit slower than we would have thought,” he added.
“I would have thought he would have turned it around for this week. It’s been a little bit slower. There is always a chance with guys coming back, there is always a chance for complications with injuries even if they are very, very minor.
“I would imagine he would be fine for the start of the Six Nations. He was not a million miles off for this week but he’s not good enough to go this week.”
O’Brien’s absence is softened somewhat by the form of Jack Conan, who last week picked up the man-of-the-match award for an excellent display which was capped by three tries.
The back row remains unchanged but Cullen has made three switches in the pack with Ross Molony coming in for the suspended Hayden Triggs.
The Kiwi was yesterday handed a three-week ban by the EPCR with Cullen revealing the second row held his hand up and apologised for his actions.
“Hayden has been going, really, really well. He’s put his hands up and said that he shouldn’t have pushed Nic White in the face basically,” the former second row continued.
“There was not intent on his part but players realise that you can’t do that. It was an unfortunate incident, he has been through his hearing yesterday and we move on now.
“Ross has played plenty in the last 18 months. He’s a very smart player, works hard at his game. It’s another big step for him.
“An away game in France, for the forwards, particularly the tight five, it’s always a challenge. He’s gone well with the opportunities he’d had in that last 18 month period. I think he has learnt some good lessons and it is another big step for him.”
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