Fresh injury woes for Leinster

Published: Monday, 19. September, 2011 in category Southern Hemisphere

Leinster were left counting the cost of their defeat to the Glasgow Warriors on Saturday with a few new injury worries for the European Cup champions to sweat over.

With 14 players on World Cup duty - as well as longer-term absentees such as Mat Berquist, Andrew Conway, Shane Horgan, Tom Sexton and Eamonn Sheridan - fresh injury concerns was not what the Irish side needed but they will be without Kevin McLaughlin and Dominic Ryan this weekend after both players sustained ankle injuries against Glasgow.

Berquist and Sheridan are expected to be unavailable until the New Year and Conway (ankle) should return over the coming weeks. Meanwhile, hooker Sexton could be back over the next month after undergoing knee surgery over the summer months.

Luke Fitzgerald was withdrawn midway through the second half with cramp as a precautionary basis and though he sat out training on Monday he will hopefully be available for selection.

Steven Sykes stepped up his rehabilitation and though he may again miss out on selection, he could be available for Leinster's next home match a week later in the RDS against Aironi.

There were debuts for Ireland Under-20 captain Jordi Murphy and prop Nathan White on Saturday night while Isa Nacewa completed a 100 percent kicking ratio and a 14-point haul.