LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen has played down as precautionary, the decision to replace Luke Fitzgerald, Sean Cronin and Jonathan Sexton in yesterday’s Pro12 win over Treviso.
Of the three, Cullen has marked only Fitzgerald as a doubt to face the league-leading Scarlets this Friday, after he was removed in the first half after taking a blow to his lower neck, upper shoulder region.
“It was a big of a stinger, but it was more of a precaution because of the history Luke has had with his neck,” Cullen said today, referring to the neck injury Fitzgerald suffered in 2012.
“We had Noel Reid on the bench as well - Noel has played all the games at 12. I know, 30 minutes in, it’s not ideal because it limits your options later. But with Noel there, it’s an easy solve.
“Luke will get assessed today and see when he will get back in to the action.”
Though Cullen wouldn’t admit as much, with just five days to turn his team around between games, he is unlikely to risk Fitzgerald on Friday. But the head coach was able to list off the November and Christmas schedule that he hopes to have Ireland’s quarter-final try-scorer available for- starting with the Champions Cup clash with Wasps.
“With so many big games coming up – Scarlets this week in to two European games… he’ll get plenty of opportunities down the line regardless of whether he plays this week.”
As for Cronin, Cullen says there was nothing more to the hooker’s injury than a dead leg and a coincidentally-timed front row change-up.
Sexton, meanwhile, has also been marked injury-free despite handing over kicking responsibilities to Fergus McFadden midway through the opening half of the bonus point win in Italy.
“It was just when he came off (for 10 minutes in the sin-bin) the fact that he cooled down, Ferg has been kicking – again, it’s just erring on the side of caution.
“It’s good that he came back on and played until we had scored four tries at 27 – 3. Then I wanted to get another look at Cathal Marsh and Luke McGrath at half-back. I thought they looked really sharp when they came on, so good to see them really pushing for their place in the team.”
