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Leinster’s mission to end their run of trophy less seasons has hit a speed bump with the province announcing they’ll be facing the Scarlets without two Lions.
Forwards coach Robin McBryde spoke to the media this week and stated the Tahg Furlong will miss this weekend’s knockout clash with a calf injury. Anyone who’s followed Furlong recently will be aware that calf injuries have plagued him in recent seasons, however McBride was quick to allay fears and stated that it “was the other one”, not the injury that made him unavailable in four out of five of Ireland’s most recent Six Nations games. Leinster were also adamant that this injury would in no way effect his participation in the British & Irish Lions tour this Summer.
The tighthead reported the issue to the team while sat on the bench in Leinster’s most recent win over the Glasgow Warriors. Thomas Clarkson played the full game.
That’s not the only bit of bad news for Leo Cullen’s side. Robbie Henshaw has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the inside centre who inadvertently took shots from fans and media alike for starting ahead of Jordie Barrett in Leinster’s Semi Final loss to the Northampton Saints.
Henshaw’s injury paves the way for Jordie Barrett to start Leinster’s URC knockout game and also is an opportunity for Jamie Osbourne to see more minutes.
It’s not all bad news for the Irish province who look set to welcome back Jordan Larmour. The outside back last played in Thomand Park on the 27th of December, It’ll be a tough task forcing his way back into the team at this stage of the season and even though Ireland will be without some of their key men for this year’s Summer tour, the odds are against him making the squad.
The Scarlets are the team that handed Leinster their second of three losses of the season. What impact did that performance have on Leinster as they prepared for their European Semi Final? We’ll never know. For so long Leinster looked bulletproof, but after a confounding loss they look more akin to bulletproof glass that’s seriously flawed, standing upright but primed to shatter if poked in the right place.
