Leinster grapple with lack of hookers

RUGBY HEINEKEN CUP NEWS:THE HEINEKEN Cup may be only just over two weeks away but Leinster could face a potentially serious issue with hookers ahead of their critical Pool match against London Wasps on January 17th, writes Johnny Watterson

While coach Michael Cheika is currently looking in the short term towards this week's Magners League home match against Cardiff Blues, the outcome of a disciplinary hearing tonight in Dublin regarding hooker John Fogarty could greatly complicate Leinster's hopes of making the quarterfinal stages of the competition.

Fogarty, along with flanker, Shane Jennings, has been cited for punching during Leinster's defeat over Connacht in last Friday's Magners League game at the RDS, Dublin.

In tandem with an injured Bernard Jackman, who is not expected to be fit for this weekend - although Leinster management hold out hopes of him being fit in two weeks' time - Leinster could be missing their two first-choice hookers for their Twickenham encounter with Wasps.

A London win for the Irish side, who currently lead their pool with 15 points, ahead of second-placed Wasps on 12 points, would secure the quarter-final place.

Brian Blaney seems the obvious choice to step up for a starting place if Fogarty receives a suspension tonight and if Jackman remains sidelined following operations on his knees. The dynamic frontrow, Jackman, was seen walking, although with a limp, around the RDS paddocks prior to last Friday's interprovincial clash.

If Blaney, who has significant experience in the position but has not been the recent first- or second-choice hooker for Cheika, is asked to step up into a starting position Leinster may then be asked to look to their academy players, where the relatively inexperienced Richard Sweeney and Jason Harris-Wright are next in line for the number two shirt.

Leinster is not now in a position to start re-registering players. The rules governing replacement players follow along ERC lines. In a squad of 36 each club must have a minimum of 10 frontrow players and for a match 22 the team must name two frontrow players.

While every squad is allowed to register an additional player through the pool stages of the Heineken Cup, teams are not allowed to change again until the knockout stages, when they are then allowed to register up to three more players.

Leinster's choice for the pool stages has already been taken up with the selection of New Zealand outhalf David Holwell, who was brought over before Christmas following a spate of injuries and selection priorities in that position.

In a statement released yesterday the IRFU confirmed the hearing for today in Dublin.

"The Irish Rugby Football Union Disciplinary Panel will hold three separate hearings on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 to consider citing complaints from the Leinster v Connacht and the Munster v Ulster Magners League games," it said.

"Leinster flanker Shane Jennings and Leinster hooker John Fogarty have been cited for punching during the Leinster v Connacht game under law 10.4 (a)

"Munster prop Freddie Pucciariello has been cited for kicking during the Munster v Ulster game under laws 10.4 (c) and 10.4 (k). The players were cited by the independent citing commissioners who were present at both games. The findings of the disciplinary panel will be released following the completion of all hearings."

If it comes down to selecting academy players for a bench position Harris-Wright from Presentation College Bray and Blackrock College has played for the Irish Under-20 side and for Leinster A, while St Mary's College hooker Sweeney was a member of the Ireland Under-20 side that won the Grand Slam.

"Obviously we are hopeful that Bernard will be fit and that John has no case to answer," said a Leinster official yesterday.

Management are also hopeful that captain and secondrow, Leo Cullen, as well as fullback Girvan Dempsey, will be available for selection this week.

Cullen has been a long-term injury case following a shoulder operation.

In the province's favour Wasps have a string of injuries to contend with. Club captain and former French frontrow Raphael Ibanez continues to be rested after a series of concussions while England's Joe Worsley, who did not play last weekend against Harlequins, has had to undergo a scan on his hand following Wasps' match against Sale.

Josh Lewsey, who did not take the field either last weekend, injured his hamstring against Sale but is expected to recover while potential England backrow Tom Rees departed after only three minutes against Harlequins at the weekend. Wasps England lock Tom Palmer is also in doubt having injured his shoulder against Saracens and may need an operation. He was expected to see a specialist yesterday.

Munster will name their team to face top-of-the-table Ospreys tomorrow. The line-up for the Friday night match is further complicated by the citing of Pucciarello, although, Munster continue to hold out hope that Paul O'Connell (knee), Denis Leamy (shoulder) and Tomás O'Leary will be available for selection.