Felix Jones is not in the business of counting the minutes he gets in an Ireland jersey, but he has 80 of them to make an impression when he lines out at full-back against Georgia tomorrow.

Leinster were unprepared mentally or physically for last week’s season-opening defeat to Glasgow, according to Fergus McFadden, who hopes the last-gasp defeat may prove a blessing in disguise.

Johnny Sexton will face the “true test” of fitness on his thumb ligament problem in Ireland’s training session on Thursday, according to John Plumtree.

Leinster 28 Glasgow Warriors 25

Jimmy Gopperth is confident Leinster’s slugathons of recent weeks will prove to be the ideal preparation for the province’s crucial Heineken Cup trip to France where they will face Top 14 champions Castres.

Dave Kearney has learned to keep the focus internal at Leinster.

Ospreys 9 Leinster 19

Jonathan Sexton’s loss to Racing Metro wasn’t easy for Leinster to absorb, but Isaac Boss still can’t help smiling every time he watches his old team-mate in action for his new Parisian employers.

Jimmy Gopperth may never have made it as an All Black but that doesn’t make him a sub-standard out-half.

Newly-minted Ireland number 10 Ian Madigan insisted on Saturday night that he was no “flash-in-the-pan” out-half.

Jonno Gibbes has refused to be drawn on whether or not he is interested in succeeding Joe Schmidt at Leinster if the latter’s coronation as Ireland’s head coach is given the expected thumbs up by the IRFU.

Fergus McFadden believes Ian Madigan’s form will make it very difficult for Warren Gatland to omit the Leinster out-half from his Lions touring squad when the selection is confirmed after the Heineken and Amlin semi-finals later this month.

Injury updates from Leinster’s UCD base have more often than not been dispiriting affairs this season but yesterday’s was refreshingly positive ahead of tomorrow’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final away to Wasps.

Paddy Jackson paid tribute to Brian O’Driscoll as he spoke of the honour of starting his Test career alongside Ireland’s legendary outside centre.

Not that Leinster picked him but after two days of confusion surrounding Cian Healy’s three-week suspension, RBS 6 Nations Championship organisers felt sufficiently moved yesterday to issueclarification on the matter.

Leinster are scouring the world for a replacement for departing out-half Jonny Sexton, according to their skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy.

THE story of Leinster’s season so far seemed to be repeating itself at the RDS on Saturday evening.