Ireland and Leinster flanker Seán O’Brien may be fit enough to make a competitive appearance before the end of this season. O’Brien, who dislocated his shoulder against Ulster in a Pro12 clash in late December and subsequently underwent surgery, had originally hoped to return in time for Leinster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final in Toulon.
A post-operation infection scuppered those plans, but O’Brien may yet be fit enough to take part in Ireland’s two Test matches against Argentina in June.
“Sean O’Brien’s progressing really well. He’s not a million miles away,” said kicking and skills coach Richie Murphy yesterday. “He’s ahead of where he should be at this stage and he is progressing really well, training really hard in the gym . . .”
Moving towards fitness
Fergus McFadden and Eoin Reddan are also moving towards fitness although no time scale was put on their return to competitive play.
Luke Fitzgerald, however, may play this weekend. The Leinster centre and wing has been knocked back a few times with a difficult injury to his pelvis, but has had a noticeable improvement.
“He has been doing extra skill work with me there 10 minutes ago and he’s on the pitch today, ready to train. That is how we’ll take it at the moment,” said Murphy
With chasing Ospreys finishing their schedule away to Zebre and at home to Connacht in Liberty Stadium, the chances are the Welsh team will win both of their final matches.
Incentive
The incentive is certainly there to do so now. That would mean Ulster will have to beat either Leinster this Friday in Ravenhill or Munster in their finishing run if they are to make it to the semi-finals.
“They’re losing players going into next season but for them it gives them a great carrot to go and do this. They are five points ahead of Ospreys. Ospreys look like they could get maximum points in their next two games, so Ulster will have to beat either us or Munster, which will be tough.”
But it’s also the perfect storm for Leinster in their first visit to the newly refurbished stadium. Ulster may also be a little desperate.
“I think I heard (Johan) Muller during the week saying they had two cup finals to play,” says Murphy. “It’s a tough situation to be in but we’re not concentrating on them.
“We have to get ourselves right and we probably need six points to make sure we finish top spot, but we won’t be looking for six, we’ll be looking for two wins.”
