Cullen gives update on O'Brien as concern mounts over Ireland flanker's shoulder injury

It’s been a season to forget for Sean O’Brien – his latest comeback lasted just 40 minutes against Benetton Rugby last weekend, before being hauled off at half-time.

The flanker, who missed Ireland’s Grand Slam winning campaign, was desperate to get back in time for the closing stages of the season, as Leinster chase glory on two fronts, in the Champions Cup and PRO14.

He was left out of Leinster’s 23-man squad for Saturday’s Champions Cup semi-final with the Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium and now head coach Leo Cullen has revealed why.

“He didn’t come through this week and he’s had a procedure on his shoulder today.”

“He was in with a surgeon this morning, so we’ll have a report out in due course. I don’t know the full details myself yet.”

“He went to see his specialist during the week and he got booked in for a slot today. We’ll find out the full extent of that over the next few days.”

Nicknamed the ‘Tullow Tank’, the flanker has been in the wars this season, he complained of a hip problem in December after Leinster’s Champions Cup game with Exeter at the Aviva, and would have surgery on the problem a few weeks later, which ruled him out of the start of the Six Nations.

His comeback from that injury on March 9th lasted just 26 minutes when he came off the pitch with an injury to his left shoulder, in a 10-10 PRO14 draw at the Scarlets.

O’Brien has played just six times for Leinster this season, completing 80 minutes just twice.

Last Saturday’s 40-minute cameo against Benetton would appear to be his last action of the season, with the 31-year-old also set to miss Ireland’s three-Test tour of Australia in June.

Here is the team to represent Leinster in tomorrow's #ChampionsCup Semi-Final at @AVIVAStadium against Scarlets. #JoinTheRoar #LEIvSCA pic.twitter.com/0GMMelb76G

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) April 20, 2018

Mercifully for Leinster and Ireland are not light in the backrow department, with Dan Leavy becoming a key player for club and country this year.

There is better news on the injury front for Robbie Henshaw – his season appeared to be over when he walked off the pitch in a sling and inhaling pain relief during Ireland’s Natwest 6 Nations win over Italy.

But the centre’s remarkable recovery from a dislocated shoulder, which he sustained while scoring a try, is complete with the former Connacht man being named in the centre for Leinster’s semi-final with the Scarlets.

He will be alongside Garry Ringrose in a pretty formidable midfield partnership.

James Lowe, who has been a revelation since joining the province with an impressive strike record of 9 tries in just 10 appearances, misses out because only two ‘non-Europeans’ can be included.

Those spots have been given to Jamison Gibson-Park, who is named at scrumhalf alongside captain Johnny Sexton, while Australian Scott Fardy is in the pack.