Rugby: Things don't get any easier for Leinster. After defeat to Glasgow Warriors at the RDS on Saturday Joe Schmidt's side face Llanelli Scarlets in five days time and the injuries are mounting.
Shorn of 14 players involved in the World Cup and already coping without long-term absentees Mat Berquist, Andrew Conway, Shane Horgan, Tom Sexton and Eamonn Sheridan, Leinster’s 28-match winning streak in regular-season games at the RDS ended with yet more to add to the casualty list.
Flankers Kevin McLaughlin and Dominic Ryan both suffered ankle injuries in the 23-19 loss and are no expected to be available for the trip to Wales.
There’s some respite in the news that Luke Fitzgerald should make the journey, despite being withdrawn against the Warriors with cramp, while Steven Sykes could return a week later at home to Aironi, but when naming his team on Friday Schmidt will have little option but to again call on an inexperienced crop.
That is likely to mean further action for Ireland under-20 captain Jordi Murphy and prop Nathan White, who both debuted against Glasgow. The former, in fact, could be considered for a staring berth in the backrow.
Berquist’s absence and that of Jonny Sexton, who is in New Zealand with Ireland, means Ian Madigan is likely to continue at outhalf.
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