Fit-again Sean Cronin retains hope of Lions summer role

Go back to the day before Leinster’s Champions Cup quarter-final defeat of Wasps at the Aviva Stadium and Sean Cronin (right) was making his return from injury as a replacement for Ed Byrne during Leinster A’s win over Ulster’s second string at Rifle Park in Banbridge.

It was an appropriate name for the ground on which the Ireland hooker would make his reappearance.

Three months had gone since the player pulled up so dramatically against Zebre at the RDS, clutching the back of his thigh as if shot by some unseen assailant from the stand. Diagnosis: A grade two hamstring tear.