BOD’s absence sure to hit Thomond turnstiles

Munster’s hopes of a last-minute rush for tickets to tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Leinster may have been dented by Ireland hero Brian O’Driscoll’s absence from the interprovincial derby.

In the last season of an illustrious career before retiring next summer, Leinster centre O’Driscoll, 34, was due to make possibly his final appearance at Thomond Park this evening (6:45pm) only to suffer a calf strain in training this week.

Leinster officials described the injury as “minor” but there are concerns for head coach Matt O’Connor that the former Ireland and Lions captain may miss next weekend’s Heineken Cup pool opening against the Ospreys and O’Driscoll will be assessed by the province’s medical team in the coming days regarding his availability.

Despite tonight’s game, the first of the season at Thomond Park for Rob Penney’s side, being keenly anticipated, the fixture is not a sell-out with Munster saying remaining tickets were due to go on sale at all their outlets from 9am this morning. Former dual Australian international Lote Tuqiri was yesterday named as O’Driscoll’s replacement in the Leinster midfield alongside Gordon D’Arcy as O’Connor opted for Ian Madigan at fly-half ahead of New Zealander Jimmy Gopperth.

Gopperth, who joined Leinster in the off-season from Newcastle as Johnny Sexton departed for Racing Metro, had started the first three games of the new campaign at No.10 with Madigan playing at full-back, but after directing an outstanding backline display in his first game as the incumbent fly-half last week against Cardiff Blues, the Dubliner is preferred and will partner scrum-half Eoin Reddan.

Jamie Heaslip captains the Leinster side in a back row also featuring Kevin McLaughlin and Sean O’Brien with Jordi Murphy ruled out for a number of weeks having undergone a procedure on an ankle injury.