O’Driscoll injury a downer for Leinster

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.

Schmidt has learned more about his players in the last week than he did in the previous eight, but the second-half injury to talisman O’Driscoll at the RDS on Saturday is a huge blow, even if captain Leo Cullen could be on the verge of a morale boosting return.

The Irish centre had to be helped from the field seconds after Racing Metro scored their only try of the game and Schmidt admitted there was a serious worry about his fitness for next week’s tie and beyond. The Irish coach Declan Kidney will be equally concerned in advance of the November series of international games.