O’Driscoll targets Stephen’s Day return

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL is planning to make his long-awaited return to rugby in Leinster’s Stephen’s Day Celtic League game against Ulster in Ravenhill.

Reports had suggested that the Irish and Lions centre would be included in the province’s squad for Saturday’s Heineken Cup game against Bourgoin at the RDS. Those claims were contradicted yesterday by both Leinster officials and his father and agent Frank.

“At the moment, the plan is for Brian to come back for the Ulster game or the home game against Munster on New Year’s Eve,” said Leinster PRO Peter Breen. “This weekend definitely looks like it will be too soon for him.”

O’Driscoll has been out since the infamous spear tackle which dislocated his shoulder during the Lions’ first test defeat against New Zealand in Christchurch in June.

Since a subsequent operation, the 26-year old has been following a rigorous rehabilitation programme and insisted he would not return until he was 100% fit.

Yesterday he took part in what was described as “a controlled contact session” with the Leinster backs and observers saying he was moving well and looked sharp.

“He’s jumping to get playing again” his father Frank admitted.

While the news will be music to the ears of coach Michael Cheika, the Australian is currently focusing his thoughts on this weekend’s must-win game. Cheika is expected to go for the same back line that started last week’s Celtic League win over Connacht at the Sportsgrounds.

Malcolm O’Kelly’s injury-hit season should get another belated jump-start by being pitched in from the start against the French visitors. O’Kelly hasn’t played since being concussed in the first half of Ireland’s defeat to Australia at Lansdowne Road over two weeks ago and he featured little for Leinster even before that while he was recovering from his own Lions tour injury.

Brian O’Riordan will continue at scrum-half.

Brian O’Meara is unavailable for a month after picking up a knee injury while playing for Lansdowne Road, but Keith Gleeson has been given the thumbs up for Saturday despite picking up a minor rib injury last day out.

Leinster’s hopes of qualification from Pool Five stand on the brink after an opening day home loss to Bath that has been only partially remedied with a subsequent win in Glasgow.

“I thought there were a lot of pluses in the game against Bath but you have to accept that sometimes the result is not what you wanted - that is life,” said Cheika. “Now we have to make sure we turn it around and do the business in the remaining four games.

“It is an extremely tough tournament and almost every side - quite rightly - feel they can go through and qualify for the quarter-finals.

“In some cases four wins might just be enough to squeeze through but five should be good enough and you can be assured that we are aiming for those five.”

Leinster travel to France to play Bourgoin at the Stade Pierre Rajon the week after next before hosting Glasgow and visiting Bath at The Rec in January.