Leinster injury crisis deepens as star spotted on crutches following win

Leinster’s ongoing injury crisis at loosehead deepened on Saturday following their bruising Investec Champions Cup win over Sale Sharks at the Aviva, and there were injuries elsewhere to be assessed.

European debutant Alex Usanov lasted barely four minutes before twisting his ankle. The unlucky prop was subsequently removed from the field and replaced by fellow rookie Jerry Cahir.

It leaves Leinster on a tricky wicket. Fellow loosehead Andrew Porter remains touch-and-go, while Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle remain sans combat.

“Alex rolled his ankle, so we’ll get him checked out. It’s early days, but it’s hard to see him playing next week. Beyond that, we’ll have to wait and see,” said Leinster head coach Leo Cullen.

Cullen, however, remained coy on how exactly he was going to fill the gap, and whether or not a short-term loan deal for a prop would be necessary.

“It’s something that’ll probably be rattling around my head for the next couple of days. There are a few things that could play out. It might give some younger guys an opportunity, which is good, but it’s a tricky time.”

There was also some damage taken in the back-row and second-row department too. Both Josh van Flier and Ryan Baird looked ginger coming off, with Joe McCarthy, who sustained a cut to his head, spotted on crutches following the game.

“He [Josh van der Flier] was limping as well, just a bit banged up. It’s early days, and it was his second game back. He came off but he was okay.”

“Ryan was fine overall – the usual bumps and bruises you get in knockout rugby. At this stage of the season, with everything on the line, you always pick up something.”

Cullen felt Leinster’s victory was built largely on patience against a Sale side that “make you earn everything”.

“At 7–3 you knew it was always going to be a bit of an arm-wrestle. Sale are an unbelievably physical team. They love whacking into things and they’ve got half-backs who are very efficient in terms of playing a territory game.”

“We were hopeful at half-time, but we were probably a bit frustrated as well. We were close on a few occasions and then we lost the ball inside or around their 22, and they were able to relieve pressure.”

“I thought Hugo [Keenan] was exceptional in how we dealt with their kicking game. They didn’t really punish us in that sense, but it meant we had to stay patient.

“If you stay brave and keep playing your game, the space comes. They’re a tiring team to defend against, but you still need to be clinical to take those chances.

“I thought the tries we scored as the game went on were very pleasing, but at that stage it’s just about getting the job done.

“It was a huge squad effort. It’s a six-day turnaround, you’re managing bodies, a few guys in, a few guys out; that’s the way it is. You just make sure you get the job done.”

“Those sort of battles are good for us as a group. They harden you up for this time of year.”