Celtic League NewsLeinster coach Michael Cheika has included Felipe Contepomi in an extended squad ahead of next Wednesday's Magners Celtic League game against Munster at Thomond Park. The Argentinian outhalf has not played since damaging knee ligaments in the final seconds of a Test match against France in November.
His inclusion might just constitute wishful thinking as Cheika pointed out that he was by no means assured of being fit in time. The player, though, is keen to be back. Cheika said: "We're hoping to get him back as soon as possible. He's confident, which is good, but then he is always confident.
"Whether he'll be in line to play against Munster I wouldn't be sure. We have also included (Jonathan) Sexton in there because (Christian) Warner is carrying an injury from the Agen game away from home and we just have to cover all our bases there. He's got a bit of a problem with the top rib. It's swollen and a touch sensitive.
"There's no cartilage damage and the medical staff are hopeful that he's going to be available for the Munster match. He's hasn't set foot on the training pitch."
Warner's first serious examination will be when he is asked to train this morning.
While Contemomi was absent, Leinster have drawn with Ulster at Ravenhill and won successive matches, home and away, against Agen. Yet his absence, while not compromising Leinster in terms of results, is easily discerned from general team play to place-kicking.
Cheika admitted: "He's a certain type of player. You have to strategise a little differently without him as a player and as a goalkicker. I think we have tried to adapt our game plans according to the player who was in that position whether it was Andy (Dunne) or Christian (Warner) at the time and also taking into account the opposition. All the players are very competent in the way we want to play the game.
"He's really irreplaceable at that level. The fact that he can produce a lot of his own brilliance as well as the team's brilliance; he's an all-round player. We wanted to make sure that he's fully recovered before we bring him back on the field. He hasn't got out there yet.
"We have to build the character to be able to do without him. Our play hasn't been as fluent as we'd like without him. That's something that we're going to gather as those players (Dunne, Warner) get more game time. The players who have stepped in have done a good job and there's still work to do for them."
Contepomi is not the only player on the sidelines as props Brian Blaney (rib), Fosi Pala'amo (ankle) and Will Green (neck) are also receiving treatment.
Blaney should be available for the Munster match after damaging a rib and being forced to retire during the victory over Agen at Stade Armandie. Pala'amo is expected to be available in time for the Ulster game - Leinster have already sold 42,000 tickets for a match billed as the Last Stand at Lansdowne Road on New Year's Eve. It looks like being a 48,000 sell-out. There are only some north and south terrace tickets left.
Cheika pointed out that former England and Wasps prop Green, has started on the comeback trail, although he won't play again until the New Year. "It's really going to be up to Will (Green) in relation to that injury and the confidence he'll need to come back and play.
"He put his head into a couple of scrums on Tuesday, which he gained a bit of confidence from and he's definitely more upbeat about returning sooner rather than later which is positive for us.
"I can't see him playing in this period here. We'll assess him prior to the next round of Heineken matches."
The Leinster players will have Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off before travelling to Limerick on St Stephen's Day for a match that takes place on Wednesday, December 27th.
LEINSTER SQUAD: R McCormack, R Corrigan, B Blaney, H Vermaas, B Jackman, S Wright, T Hogan, M O'Kelly, O Finegan, C Jowitt, S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip, C Whitaker, G Easterby, A Dunne, F Contepomi, C Warner, J Sexton, D Hickie, R Kearney, G D'Arcy, B O'Driscoll (capt), K Lewis, S Horgan, L Fitzgerald, G Dempsey.
