Rob Kearney likely to be out of Champions Cup opener

Rob Kearney took one for the team, so to speak. In pirouetting and winning a footrace, he saved a try against the Scarlets at the RDS – an important intervention given the final score – but is now unlikely to be there in a playing context when Leinster open their Champions Cup campaign against Wasps on Sunday (1pm).

The Ireland and Leinster fullback has "some tears to the fibres in his hamstring", a fact confirmed by backs coach Girvan Dempsey following Monday's medical review, adding that the player "was a major concern for the weekend".

The medical prognosis on a number of other players was more upbeat. Luke Fitzgerald had his shoulder examined by a specialist and was encouraged to resume training after picking up a knock against Benetton Treviso. Ben Te’o sustained a mild “glute strain” against the Scarlets and was replaced – he had come on for Rob Kearney in that match – as a precautionary measure.

Seán Cronin had been pencilled in to start against the Welsh side but a minor calf niggle, which has subsequently cleared up, sees him return to full training this week.

The only player on which there was no news was Connacht's Robbie Henshaw. The Ireland centre said his future might lie away from the western province – he is out of contract at the end of the season – and he has been heavily linked with a move to Leinster in the past.

There will be no shortage of offers, both domestically and abroad, but Henshaw is keen to resolve the issue before Christmas. Dempsey, while aware of the speculation, was unwilling to fuel it.

"Honestly, I couldn't tell you. I haven't heard. There have just been rumours and stuff like that," he said. "It will be between the union [IRFU] and the powers that be. That's where it is at the moment. It [any registered interest from Leinster] would be through Leo Cullen, Mick Dawson and Guy Easterby; any recruitment process has to go through the right channels."

Comprehensive victory

Of more pressing concern is the visit of Wasps to Dublin. The English Premiership team warmed up for the assignment with a comprehensive victory over Gloucester at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday.

It wasn’t though without the odd misadventure as tighthead prop Lorenzo Cittadini picked up a straight red card. His understudy Jake Cooper-Woolley went off with a head knock, as did powerful number eight Nathan Hughes, albeit the latter returned to the pitch.

Dempsey kept a close eye on the London club's back play with Charles Piutau – who joins Ulster next season – having a big impact.

“I have watched him [Piutau] through the ITM [Cup] and for Auckland. He’s a very dangerous attacking player. He’s a very strong, physical guy and he’s elusive as well. He is a huge and fantastic addition to their squad.”

Quick back three

There’s not much diminution in quality in relation to the remainder of the back three that includes another All Black in the 6ft 5in, 17-stone wing Frank Halai and England international flyer Christian Wade, who caused Leinster so many problems in the corresponding European fixture last season.

“Halai, likewise, is a good player and they’ve Wade on the other wing, who is lightning quick: they’ve got a very strong, very quick back three. They have options in midfield, Elliot Daly and [Australian Ben] Jacobs and Jimmy Downey,” Dempsey said. “Jimmy [Gopperth] is going to miss out. That’s disappointing. It would have been good to have him back to the RDS. Ruairidh Jackson played [outhalf on Sunday]. They’ve [Alex] Lozowski there as well. No matter who they play, you look at their backline, they’re very strong.”

Leinster’s fixture schedule over the next 12 matches is eye-watering with the Wasps match followed by a trip to the Recreation Ground to face Bath, Pro12 games against Ulster and the Glasgow Warriors, back-to-back Champions Cup matches against Toulon and matches against Munster in Thomond Park and Connacht over Christmas.

“If you look at the whole block [of matches] you could get overawed. That is why we have narrowed our focus and tried to make sure we are good on Sunday because Wasps showed that they are starting to hit a vein of form as they get guys back in,” Dempsey said.

"[English] Premiership clubs have found things a bit difficult because of the stop-start nature of the Premiership over that World Cup period but I think now in the last couple of weeks you have started to see them implement some of their style and their game-plan. They are starting to gel a bit better now."

Dempsey also said the coaches were pleased with the young players who had stepped up since the start of the season in the absence of Ireland players.