O’Driscoll’s final fitness bid ‘in the balance’

THERE were mixed messages from the Leinster camp regarding Brian O’Driscoll’s fitness yesterday with the player himself delivering a much less optimistic prognosis than the official line ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup final against Northampton.

Forwards coach Jonno Gibbes originally suggested it could be as late as Friday before O’Driscoll’s availability becomes clear while an official communique later in the day suggested news could be out tomorrow.

“It’s a bit in the balance for the weekend,” O’Driscoll subsequently told RTÉ radio.