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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Rhys Ruddock and Sean Cronin doubts for Leinster's run-in

Sean Cronin and Rhys Ruddock are doubts for Leinster's double bid run-in.

Hooker Cronin suffered a first half calf injury in the province's Champions Cup semi-final victory over Toulouse last Sunday. 

“He’s been assessed, we’ll see how it goes," said Leinster's scrum coach John Fogarty.

"He’s a pretty important person, he’s out for this week and then we’ve a prep week and then we play (the Champions Cup final on May 11). 

"It’s important that he gets back but we’re not quite sure yet."

Rhys Ruddock at the Captain's Run (©INPHO/Oisin Keniry)

Revenge not on the menu for Leinster against Saracens - Leo Cullen  

Ruddock was withdrawn by the Blues' medical staff as he felt unwell after the Captain's Run on the eve of the game, and Scott Fardy took his place in the back row.

The flanker took a bang to the head and neck in the Champions Cup quarter-final against Ulster.

Having subsequently gone through the graduated return to play protocols afterwards, he then felt unwell before the Toulouse fixture and was immediately returned to the protocol programme.

"He’s not right, he’s out for this week," confirmed Fogarty, referring to Leinster's final regular PRO14 season game at Ulster on Friday.

“He’s not someone who has had a huge amount of head knocks. It’s going to affect people in different ways, he’s not feeling quite right. 

"There's nothing sinister behind the scenes, he really isn’t feeling 100 percent. You can’t put the guy out there if he’s not feeling 100 percent. 

"He’ll hopefully get himself right - this next few weeks are going to be epic." 

Adam Byrne is out for the rest of the season (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)

Johnny Sexton says Leinster facing toughest ever challenge against Saracens 

Adam Byrne is out for the remainder of the season with a quad injury but, having missed the semi-final with a minor hamstring issue, Jamison Gibson-Park could return this week.

His availability will have implications for the European final against Saracens as only two from Gibson-Park, Scott Fardy and James Lowe can make the matchday squad under current rules. 

“We need a full bill of health," stressed Fogarty. "If you win a semi-final in Europe, it tests your squad massively. 

"We need as many as we can back. This time of year, our medical department are probably under the most pressure, to get people back in the right way, to commit to training, lads committing hard to training. 

"Some of those guys now, it puts us under a little bit of pressure to get them back on the field, to train them up, some of the guys who came back in the semi did an unbelievable job. 

"Sexto (Johnny Sexton) the whole week, he came back and he’s 100 percent, it’s just an amazing thing to watch. He led us the whole week, he is such a huge influence in the game."

Meanwhile Andrew Porter had a minor pectoral muscle injury last week and will also be assessed this week before a decision is made on his availability.

Ross Molony could also feature in the coming weeks after a back injury.

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