Provinces left counting bodies

Rugby:A number of injury worries continue to hang over the Irish provinces in this pivotal week of Heineken European Cup action.

While Stephen Keogh was replaced by Owen Finegan after 50 minutes in Leinster's match at Donnybrook against the Ospreys, it was seen as a precautionary move. The flanker was complaining of a hand problem.

But coach Michael Cheika will still be counting bodies this week. Luke Fitzgerald has been ruled out with a shoulder problem, while fullback Girvan Dempsey, on crutches up until a few weeks ago, is a possible inclusion if he can recover from his ankle injury. If not this week, Dempsey could return in two weeks.

Hooker Bernard Jackman, who also came off against the Ospreys but returned to the fray, was just winded, which will be of some comfort to Leinster as Brian Blaney continues to recover from a rib problem. Prop Ronan McCormack is also still troubled by a shoulder nerve.

In Munster, centre Trevor Halstead, flanker John O'Sullivan and outhalf Jeremy Manning were all casualties of their Friday night visit to Newport. Halstead injured a leg, having been drafted in following illness to Barry Murphy, while Manning has a shoulder injury and O'Sullivan a knee problem. All three players had scans yesterday and results will be known early this week.

Ireland's Jerry Flannery, who recently recovered from a shoulder injury only to be struck down with a hamstring problem before Christmas, is an unlikely inclusion. The hooker did not play for Shannon over the weekend, making it an outside chance he would be put straight into European Cup duty next weekend in Geneva. Denis Leamy and Murphy are expected to be recovered from the bugs that kept them out of the game against the Dragons.

Anthony Foley, Marcus Horan, Mick O'Driscoll and Anthony Horgan, who all returned from injury on Friday, came through the match with no problems.

In Ulster, Mark McCall will agonise over scrumhalf Isaac Boss, who took a big hit from Scottish number number eight John Beatty early in their Celtic League game against Glasgow. Boss was forced to retire with arm and hand problems, Kieran Campbell taking over at nine as Ulster won 19-8.