Rugby:Jamie Heaslip has been ruled out of Saturday's Heineken Cup meeting with the Saracens after aggravating the ankle injury he first picked up against Clermont Auvergne last month.
Leinster can book their place in the knockout stages of the tournament with a victory at the RDS but will have to do so without their talismanic number eight. Heaslip took a knock in the Magners League win over the Ospreys last Friday night and will not be risked on Saturday.
Leinster coach Joe Schmidt, who reported the province’s other injury concerns trained well during the week, is confident Heaslip will be fit for the final pool match away to Racing-Metro in Paris next Friday night.
“He got some bone bruising in a tackle against the Ospreys,” Schmidt said today. “He’s not available this week but we’re very hopeful for next week (against Racing Metro).”
Sean O’Brien is likely to revert to number eight in Heaslip’s absence with either Dominic Ryan or Kevin McLaughlin coming into the back row. Schmidt is due to name his starting line-up tomorrow lunchtime.
