This match just got a whole lot tougher.
With the Six Nations over for another year, focus now shifts to the Champions Cup aspirations of both Leinster and Munster.
Although both sides are at home in their respective quarter-finals, they will face stern tests nonetheless.
Leinster face Aviva Premiership leaders, London Wasps, at the Aviva Stadium on April 1st.
The English side have some incredible talent in their team which Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster will undoubtedly be aware of.
James Haskell, Joe Launchbury, Nathan Hughes, Kurtley Beale, Danny Cipriani, Elliot Daly, Jimmy Goperth and of course, ex-Leinster man Marty Moore.
Leinster though will be brimming with confidence after a sizeable contingent of their Ireland representatives performed well in the Six Nations over the last two months.
Unfortunately, for the eastern province, the club has revealed that two of their most experienced players will be unavailable for that crucial tie.
Both Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip have been “ruled out for a number of weeks” according to the latest injury update from Leinster Rugby.
Heaslip underwent a minor, lower-back operation this morning as a result of the injury he picked up in the warm-up immediately before Ireland’s match with England – debunking the conspiracy theories surrounding Peter O’Mahony’s selection.
Rob Kearney on the other hand, had a minor procedure on a knee issue which he picked up early in the week of the England game – Cullen put the timeline for his unavailability at about 4-6 weeks.
It is a blow to Leinster, as the level of experience in the side has taken a massive hit but they have players in the likes of Isa Nacewa and Jack Conan who can easily deputise in the full-back and No. 8 positions.
You can read the full injury update from head coach, Cullen, here.
