O'Driscoll to miss next two Leinster fixtures

IRELAND CAPTAIN Brian O’Driscoll will miss Leinster’s next two matches, tonight’s Magners League game against the Scarlets and the following weekend’s Heineken Cup clash with Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin with what appears to be a hairline fracture of his jaw.

A Leinster spokesperson confirmed the nature of the problem and the fact medical opinion suggested a two- to three-week recovery period, contingent on the healing process, and that the player might be in a position to play in the return fixture against the French champions at the Aviva Stadium on December 18th.

The player has seen a specialist twice since sustaining the injury against Argentina last Sunday and his progress will be monitored closely. Ireland and Leinster fullback Rob Kearney will “miss a minimum eight weeks”, after undergoing surgery on a knee injury that the province is as yet unable to clarify in terms of the specifics of the damage.

There was better news for Paul O’Connell as he was named in a 29-man Munster squad for tomorrow’s Magners League game against the Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park. The Ireland and Lions lock is expected to be named among the replacements when coach Tony McGahan confirms his team today. O’Connell played half a match for Young Munster against Shannon last Friday night and has trained without any ill effects all week.

The Munster Branch has covered the Thomond Park pitch with straw in an effort to try to ensure the match goes ahead. Stadium officials are confident with the anticipated rise in temperatures the match should go ahead.

Unfortunately two other Irish provinces, Connacht and Ulster, could not defy the freezing conditions and were forced to postpone tonight’s respective Magners League fixtures. Following a pitch inspection at 10.30am yesterday Connacht CEO Gerry Kelly admitted: “We are bitterly disappointed to have to call off the match but the pitch is unplayable. We are also conscious of the dangers travelling fans would face and though the forecast is for slightly milder weather, with no guarantees of a thaw we could not run the risk of leaving a decision any later with respect to Aironi’s travel arrangements.”

Connacht coach Eric Elwood pointed out while disappointed he would use the extra time to prepare for the province’s back-to-back clashes with Harlequins in the Challenge Cup. It’s an attitude he’s likely to share with his Ulster counterpart, Brian McLaughlin, after their game with the Newport Gwent Dragons at Ravenhill also fell foul of the weather.

A pitch inspection at lunchtime revealed a frozen surface and with temperatures set to plummet again last night and taking into consideration the travel arrangements of their Welsh opponents there was little choice but to postpone. Tickets already purchased will be valid when a new date is determined by Celtic Rugby.

The match between Glasgow Warriors and Benetton Treviso at Firhill became the third of tonight’s Magners matches to fall victim to the snow and ice.

In continuing the fixture whiteout the IRFU announced all the All Ireland League matches scheduled for this weekend in Leinster and Connacht have been postponed.

A decision will be made this morning on matches scheduled in Munster and Ulster.

MUNSTER:W du Preez, D Ryan, D Varley, M Sherry, T Buckley, P Borlase, J Hayes, M O'Driscoll, I Nagle, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, B Holland, N Ronan, D Wallace, D Leamy, P O'Mahony, P Stringer, T O'Leary, R O'Gara, P Warwick, D Hurley, S Tuitupou, K Earls, B Murphy, L Mafi, J Murphy, S Deasy, D Howlett.