By Johnny Watterson
Lions coach Warren Gatland appeared to know more about Leinster injury details than the Province did yesterday. Officially listed as an 'injury concern' at the daily Leinster briefing, Sean O'Brien was simultaneoulsy being ruled out of Saturday's League final against Ulster aswell as the opening two or three games of the Australian Tour as Gatland conducted a press conference in Carton House, where the Lions squad has congregated for the week.
Just where that leaves Fergus McFadden (neck), who like O'Brien is also officially 'an injury concern' is anyone's guess. The Leinster medical team are also 'hopeful' of being able to call on Brian O'Driscoll, who suffered a back injury two weekends ago aswell as hooker Richardt Strauss, who was replaced late in the Amlin Challenge Cup victory against Stade Francais last Friday with a shoulder injury.
That aside flanker O'Brien, having suffered a bruised knee, will miss the PRO12 final against Ulster, while a number of players who were rested after a demanding few weeks - including wing forward Kevin McLaughlin - could also come back into contention.
The game will have an emotional dimension as a number of individuals including Isa Nacewa and Jonny Sexton take part in their final games for Leinster ahead of summer departures. Sexton leaves for Paris with 1,000 points in his locker following a 14 point haul against Stade Français at the weekend. The Leinster team to face Ulster will be named at lunchtime on Friday.
In Galway Samoan international James So'oialo will join Connacht Rugby in the summer. So'oialo, who played in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, was recently named in the Samoan squad for the upcoming tour to South Africa, where they will face Scotland, Italy and the Golden Lions.
James comes from a rugby family dynasty and is younger brother to former All-Blacks Number 8 Rodney So’oialo and former Harlequins scrum half Stephen So’oialo. The 24-year-old utility back has signed for Connacht Rugby from Wellington Norths on a two-year deal.
said:
“James is a superb utility back who can play all positions but half back. He can kick goals from up to 60 metres out and I’m sure with the Galway wind, we will see him kick from even further out,” said Incoming Head Coach Pat Lam, who has worked with So’oialo in Samoa,
“James will join us for the pre-season straight from his summer duties with Samoa and I’m looking forward to catching up with him then.”
Following Leinster’s Amlin Challenge Cup win at the weekend, Connacht has secured a place in the Heineken Cup for a third consecutive year.
