Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
O’brien to lose out in Scots race
SEAN O’BRIEN appears to have lost his race to be fit for Ireland’s Six Nations clash with Scotland on Saturday week.
Leinster have confirmed the Tullow Tank will not feature in the PRO14 clash at Scarlets this weekend.
O’brien has returned to running after a prolonged hip problem required a small surgical procedure last month and the Blues added that he will “step up his rehabilitation” this week.
With Ireland hosting the Scots in Dublin seven days later, it’s highly unlikely that Joe Schmidt will risk the 30-year-old flanker in the back row.
Dan Leavy has performed well since stepping into the openside role just before half-time in the championship opener against France, when Josh van der Flier suffered a knee injury.
Leavy, 23, scored an important try for Joe Schmidt’s side in last Saturday’s crucial home victory over Wales, a result that leaves Ireland in pole position to win the title for the first time since 2015.
A more realistic target for O’brien could be the final championship encounter against England at Twickenham on March 17.
That was the scenario for Garry Ringrose last weekend, with the Leinster centre playing more than 50 minutes in the victory over the Southern Kings at the RDS on Friday.
Ringrose could play for the province again in Wales and come into contention to face the Scots, although Munster’s Chris Farrell was superb as Bundee Aki’s centre partner.
Meanwhile, Blues hooker James Tracy suffered no issues on his return to the side after injury last Friday.