Injury concerns mounting up for Matt O’Connor and Leinster

Leinster coach Matt O’Connor will be hoping he gets some good news from his medical team ahead of next Sunday’s European Champions Cup clash against Harlequins at The Stoop (3.15).

Ian Madigan limped off at half-time during the 18-12 Guinness Pro12 victory over the Ospreys at the RDS, having twisted his ankle, early on in the contest. The Irish international played on after receiving lengthily treatment, kicking three penalties, but did not reappear for the second half as he was replaced by Gordon D’Arcy.

Australian international Kane Douglas was escorted from the pitch after suffering a blow to the head in the second half, a problem that compounded an issue earlier in the week where fellow secondrow and Irish international Mike McCarthy presented with a recurrence of concussion-like symptoms.

McCarthy had observed the return to play protocols after suffering a concussion in Ireland victory over Georgia but having trained with Leinster this week began to feeling unwell and was withdrawn.

In something of a triple whammy of head injuries Leinster lost another secondrow Tom Denton during the course of the Ospreys win.

Medical prognosis

Isaac Boss was another late withdrawal, giving up his place on the bench, after failing to shake off flu/vomiting bug. He is expected to be fine.

The fate of a further three players who missed Ospreys’ match, Kevin McLaughlin (concussion), Richardt Strauss (hamstring) and Luke Fitzgerald (groin) will be clearer when a medical prognosis is updated at lunchtime.

On a more positive note O’Connor admitted: “Fergus McFadden, Dave Kearney and Jordi Murphy haven’t played too much rugby so it was very pleasing that they get a workout of that standard.

“For Fergus to get the full 80 minutes of a bruising encounter was great. Another 80 for Dave was excellent, Jordi got 65 minutes. It gives them rugby to build on ahead of this important block.”

Their opponents Harlequins have been struggling of late and were beaten 25-6 by Bath at the Recreation Ground but the London club were without their international contingent of fullback Mike Brown, prop Joe Marler, flanker Chris Robshaw and wing Marland Yarde, all of whom will be back for the Leinster game.

Munster are the first of the Irish province in Champions Cup action when they host Clermont Auvergne on Saturday evening at Thomond Park (5.30). Pat Howard went off against Ulster following a clash of heads with JJ Hanrahan but coach Anthony Foley isn’t unduly troubled by injury concerns, save the long-term absentees.

Clermont lost 27-19 to reigning champions Toulon in the Top14 at the Allianz Riviera stadium. French international scrumhalf Morgan Parra, out since October with a shoulder injury, was expected to play but instead he’s expected to return to action at Thomond Park in the first of back-to-back games between the teams.

Their exploits

The French club rested French international Camille Lopez (outhalf), Wesley Fofana (centre), Damien Chouly (number eight) and Sebastien Vahaamahina (secondrow) as a result of their exploits for the national side during the November test series. Clermont led Toulon 19-17 before conceding 10 points in the last 14 minutes of the match.

Ulster welcome the Scarlets to Kingspan stadium in the late game on Saturday night (7.45) and have no injury concerns in the wake of their 21-20 defeat to Munster at Thomond Park. Stuart Olding, who suffered a few bumps and bruises, should be fine.

The match may come at least a week too early for Springbok Ruan Pienar and Irish international Dan Tuohy, who are both back training but with minimal contact work done at this point.

Despite losing their first two matches Ulster coach Neil Doak said: “It is a case of give it a lash while we mathematically have a chance in Europe. (If we win) we will take stock and see what the rest of the group is like and what other groups are like. We have got four games to try and make sure that we get out of our group and get to the latter stages of the competition.”

The Scarlets, minus nine players on Wales duty, lost 14-8 at Connacht at the Sportsground. The Irish province resume their European Challenge Cup campaign when they host French side Bayonne – they drew 19-19 in the French Top 14 at the weekend – in Galway on Saturday (5.0).