We’ll cope without O’Brien

Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien could miss the entire RBS 6 Nations championship after Leinster warned he faces a long lay-off with a dislocated shoulder.

However, Eoin Reddan has backed Leinster and Ireland’s strength in depth in the back row to come to the fore while O’Brien recovers.

O’Brien was yesterday ruled out for at least six to eight weeks and will undergo surgery on the shoulder.

“It is very, very tough. Seanie will be ringing me, slagging me for mentioning other names,” joked Reddan.

“He is an exceptional player. I don’t think it will be one guy. I think we will have to slightly adjust what we do a little bit in certain things.

“But, the back row played very well at the weekend. Seanie played very well. Jordi played very well and Rhys played very well.

“You’ve got Kevin [McLaughlin] to come back into that, Jenno [Shane Jennings], Dippy [Dominic Ryan]. You have an embarrassment of riches there.”