Leinster Rugby Head Coach Leo Cullen has issued an injury update ahead of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship Semi-Final against Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld Stadium at 16:00 (SA Time).
Garry Ringrose returned to full training last week after his return from a shoulder injury and Jack Conan is expected to return to full training this week after missing the Ulster game as a precaution.
Assistant coach Robin McBryde said Ringrose is excited to get back to action and has put some tremendous work in to get back to where he is.
"Jack Conan is very dynamic off the base of the scrum,” McBryde said. "He is developing his line-out game as well.”
However, Leo Cullen said his side would have to show character if they want to qualify for the final.
"There's plenty of character in the group, that's for certain."
"You don't get into these knockout games by accident, so everyone is going full-blooded at these games, so to still be going and have a sixth playoff game to look forward to is no easy feat."
“There's the players that are on the field, the players that have contributed to get us to this point. You have to juggle the resources across the season to still be able to fire at this point of the season."
There are lots of different dynamics, that's the beauty of the competition.
"How you navigate your way through. We'd love to have a home semi-final, but this is the challenge and the next adventure that we have is a trip to South Africa."
Cullen said that he is wary of the challenge that awaits at Loftus Versveld.
“I only saw a little bit of that Bulls game earlier on but you’ve seen them over the course of the tournament. Munster had a good win over there, Glasgow had a good battle with them and Benetton played them a few weeks ago as well recently enough so we’ve seen a few of those games."
“They’re a good team over there and it will be a great challenge. Whatever group does travel, we owe it to ourselves to put in a performance."
“Nobody’s going to give us anything, are they? We need to deliver a big performance for ourselves, it’s not about owing anybody."
“It’s owing the people who have done so much work over the course of the season. It’s for the fans.”
