Leinster's Strauss out for four weeks

Leinster and Ireland hooker Richardt Strauss is facing four weeks on the sidelines after sustaining an arm injury in the province’s Heineken Cup defeat to Clermont Auvergne on Saturday.

On Sunday afternoon Strauss underwent a scan on a medial ligament injury he picked up in the opening moments of the game against Clermont with the results prompting a four week recovery period.

Isa Nacewa and Shane Jennings are the other fresh concerns for the Leinster management with both players reporting injuries after Saturday’s encounter.

The injuries come as Joe Schmidt’s men prepare for an interprovincial clash with RaboDirect PRO12 leaders Ulster in Ravenhill on Friday (7.05pm).

Flanker Shane Jennings damaged his shoulder and was replaced by Jordi Murphy in the final quarter.

The former Leicester Tigers back row will be monitored by the medical team and is considered a doubt for Friday’s game alongside Nacewa who suffered deep bruising to his arm.

Dave Kearney returned for the province on Saturday after his recent quad strain.

Friday night’s game could come a week or two too soon for Luke Fitzgerald, who has stepped up his rehabilitation programme this week.

But the medical team are hopeful that the Ireland international could come into the frame for either the home game against Connacht in the RDS on December 29th or for the Edinburgh match away at Murrayfield the following week.

There was good news for the province with Eoin O’Malley successfully coming through his first outing in Leinster A’s 44-13 British & Irish Cup win over Jersey on Sunday afternoon and the centre could make his senior return at Ravenhill.

In a further fitness boost, hooker Aaron Dundon and wing forward Dominic Ryan both came through their second successive games for the ‘A’ team on Sunday afternoon after their recent long-term spells on the sidelines.