Leinster management remain confident that Brian O'Driscoll will line up for Ireland in the upcoming internationals and that Richardt Strauss will be able to make a full recovery from recent surgery.

USA 12 Ireland 15

Plot lines aplenty at Ravenhill tonight.

He had waited three years to pull on an Ireland jersey and it took just three minutes for his long-awaited Test debut to unravel.

Richardt Strauss may have belted out the words to Amhrán na bhFiann rather than those of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika but, when everything was said and done, the Ireland hooker slipped ever so briefly back into his old skin.

It will come as a surprise if the strains of Edith Piaf’s voice can’t be heard when RTÉ’s pre-match build-up turns its focus on Richardt Strauss tomorrow evening.

Declan Kidney understands that not everyone will be jumping for joy at Richardt Strauss’ selection in the Ireland squad but the coach had no hesitation in calling up the South African hooker who is now Irish-qualified under residency rules.

Leinster Rugby have announced today the signings of lock Damian Browne and winger Fionn Carr on one-year deals respectively and they will link up with the province this summer.

SARACENS come to Dublin this week marooned at the bottom of pool four, eight points behind Leinster, but Richardt Strauss has reason enough to approach Saturday’s Heineken Cup encounter with due care.

WINNING at Wembley last October must have been sweet enough in itself but Leinster’s memories of the legendary venue were embellished even further when Saracens coach Brendan Venter vented his fury after the game.

“A bloody focus” is the phrase Leinster forwards coach Jono Gibbes uses to describe what his pack need to counter the threat that comes from the Ospreys scrum on Friday.

JOE SCHMIDT’S European euphoria was dampened last night by confirmation that Leinster will travel to Saturday’s clash against Saracens at Wembley without hamstrung Brian O’Driscoll.

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