LEINSTER COULD BE handed a timely boost ahead of their New Year’s Eve clash against Ulster in the Guinness Pro12 [3.00pm, Sky Sports 2] with Johnny Sexton in the frame to feature in the inter-provincial fixture.

A decision will be made later this week to see if the 31-year-old is fit enough to take to the field in the RDS on Saturday, with Leinster head coach Leo Cullen optimistic of the Ireland international’s availability.

“He [Sexton] trained fully today. He looked pretty good out there,” Cullen said at yesterday’s press conference. “We’re pretty hopeful he’ll come through the week. He looked sharp.

“We are constrained in what we can actually do, in terms of team training with a short turnaround. But, Johnny was full of life today. He is keen to get back involved as soon as possible.”

The out-half, who has been out of action since picking up a hamstring injury in Ireland’s November’s loss against New Zealand, will again attend the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry this week.

“We want to try and do what’s best for Johnny,” Cullen continued.

“But, he’s dying to get back involved now at this stage because it has been a frustrating period for him being on the sideline watching his teammates playing in Europe and at the weekend as well.”

Cullen speaking to the media at yesterday’s press conference. Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Squad rotation, driven by the player management system, proved costly for Leinster on St Stephen’s Day as the eastern province left Thomond Park empty-handed following the 29-17 defeat to Munster, but Cullen is expected to name a stronger side for Friday’s fixture against the northern province.

Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Jack McGrath, Josh van der Flier, Devin Toner and Garry Ringrose all took part in training in UCD, although Joey Carbery, Dave Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Mike Ross and Jordi Murphy remain unavailable for selection.

Meanwhile, Ian Nagle is being assessed after being withdrawn in the second period against Rassie Erasmus’ side, with Rob Kearney’s ankle also closely monitored.

“I thought the effort was really good against Munster. We made something like 240 tackles during the game. It tells the story really because we probably just absorbed way too much pressure,” the head coach said reflecting on Monday’s defeat.

“You couldn’t fault the defensive effort. The period either side of half-time, we didn’t manage particularly well.

“We gave away silly penalties which allowed Munster to kick field position.

“Once they get inside our 22, they are strong. I thought they were very efficient, the way they played. There are a lot of learnings for players.

“For some of the young guys, it was a big step up for them and, hopefully, they will be better for the experience.

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“I presume Ulster were able to train properly yesterday and today, having played before Christmas whereas we’re trying to manage our way through.

“It’s part of the challenge of managing this period.”

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EXACTLY 48 days after we last saw him involved in a game, Johnny Sexton will return to action in Leinster’s meeting with Zebre at the RDS tomorrow night.

The 31-year-old missed Ireland’s final Test match of the November series against Australia due to the hamstring injury he sustained in the second meeting with the All Blacks on 19 November.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

Following that win over the Wallabies, Joe Schmidt announced the possibility of Sexton taking some time on the sidelines, for “a window of time to really make sure that he can be more robust.”

And so it proved, with Sexton subsequently undergoing a regime of rehabilitation on his hamstring, much of the work done at the Santry Sports Clinic.

Having been involved in Leinster training in the past two weeks, Sexton is now ready for a return to playing, although the province’s head coach Leo Cullen indicated that there is still an element of the unknown about sending the out-half back into action.

The hamstring injury Sexton suffered in November was in his right leg, but he had come into the series with doubts surrounding his fitness after an issue in the hamstring in his left leg.

However, Cullen rejected the notion that the Ireland out-half had become more susceptible to hamstring issues.

“We say ‘recurring’ but he’s only had a few,” said Cullen. “He’s had a few other soft tissue injuries over the last number of years, but in terms of hamstrings I don’t think it’s been a major problem.

“With what’s coming up, it was important to take a more conservative course of action. You can always try and push guys back at various stages and I think time will tell how good this period has been for the player. But he’s in good spirits, has trained well and is looking forward to getting back playing.”

Cullen said that surgery was never an option for Sexton, while revealing that the out-half has spent time working on how he moves in order to prevent further issues with his hamstring.

“It’s just more in terms of movement mechanics, is probably the bigger issue,” said Cullen.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

“Certain players are more susceptible to injuries based on the way they move, and a lot of the time he spent in Santry was in terms of trying to tidy up the way he moves, so he’s at less risk in the future. We will see how that progresses.”

Sexton’s comeback tomorrow night will be watched more closely than ever, particularly with such important challenges ahead for both Leinster and Ireland.

The eastern province face Montpellier and Castres in the Champions Cup in the fortnight following the Zebre clash, while Ireland are looking ahead to their Six Nations opener against Scotland on 4 February.

Sexton will be managed by his province in the coming weeks, but Cullen says that is no different to any other squad member.

“We manage all the players differently, so that’s just not Johnny,” said the former second row. “There’s other players who don’t move as well. You’re managing their training loads in a slightly different way with the understanding that you have to be able to partake in a good chunk of the team activities.

“But all the players are managed on an individual basis in terms of their athletic development programmes they undertake in the gym or on the field.”

Sexton captains a strong Leinster team against Zebre tomorrow night, with Luke McGrath partnering him in the halfbacks – a combination that seems likely to continue for the Montpellier game if they come through this clash unscathed.

Scrum-half McGrath welcomed Sexton’s return.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“He bosses you around the place really, but it’s great to have Johnny back,” said the 23-year-old halfback. “He’s been training away the last two weeks and he’s very eager to go. Just from the nine’s point of view, it’s great to have him outside.

“He’s constantly talking to you and giving out to you, but it’s great to have in the team. We’re all delighted to have him back.”

The hope now is that Sexton is, indeed, back for good.

Meanwhile, Cullen indicated that contract talks with Jamie Heaslip were progressing positively.

The Ireland number eight told BT Sport last month that he was considering all his options, with his current deal set to expire in June.

“A player has to assess his options and my agent is out there assessing the options for me and we will lay it all out on the table and make a decision at some stage,” said Heaslip. ”I’ve travelled a lot in my life. I’m an army brat and we lived abroad plenty.

“If that’s the call I have to make then that’s the call I have to make. We’re a long, long way from making any sort of decision.”

Asked about Heaslip’s contract situation today, Cullen was succinct.

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CHRIS HENRY HAS committed his future to Ulster by putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal which will see him remain at Kingspan Stadium until June 2019.

The 32-year-old’s current deal, signed in October 2013, expired at the end of the current campaign and the northern province were quick to secure the flanker’s services for at least another two seasons.

Henry has featured seven times for Ulster this term and has won 155 caps for the club since making his debut against Harlequins in the Heineken Cup back in January 2009.

“Les (Kiss) is determined to build a successful future for Ulster Rugby and I want to be part of that vision,” Henry said.

“I believe that the squad depth is improving year-on-year, with Bryn’s (Cunningham) ongoing retention and recruitment of players leaving us in a strong position over the next few seasons.

“We have a core group of experienced players and have a developing pathway of talented youngsters coming through. I want to deliver on the pitch for Ulster but I also want to ensure that I’m assisting the Academy players, who have aspirations to play professional rugby.

Henry in action against Clermont earlier in the season. Source: Presseye/Thierry Zocolan/INPHO

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“The Ulster supporters are first class and there is no better feeling than playing in front of a packed house at Kingspan Stadium. I feel lucky to be part of a great environment and I’m delighted to commit my future to Ulster.”

Henry missed the start of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery during the summer but has worked his way back to full fitness to become a key component of Kiss’s side.

“Chris has been a key player for Ulster Rugby for a number of years and he represents everything that is good about the organisation,” the Ulster head coach said.

“He has been unfortunate with injuries and illness over the past couple of seasons but he has worked extremely hard to get back onto the pitch and I’ve no doubt that he’ll be a massive asset for us over the next couple of seasons.

“The player market is becoming increasingly competitive as a result of big budgets in France and England, but I’m delighted, as I’m sure the supporters will be, that we’ve been able to retain Chris until at least the summer of 2019.”

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RASSIE ERASMUS WAS a proud man on Saturday evening in Glasgow, for sure, but he kept coming back to the point that there is more to come from his Munster side.

If the South African’s media dealings are anything to judge by, he is a master of staying on message.

CJ Stander and Rhys Marshall were all smiles. Source: Inpho/Billy Stickland

Erasmus always brings positivity to what he says – smiling even when talking about Glasgow’s hunger to get Conor Murray “on the ground” after his kicks.

But there is no frivolity to Erasmus’ communication and the smiles are always accompanied by the assertion that there is plenty more to come from Munster. Even after an away win against Glasgow to secure a first European quarter-final in three years, Munster’s director of rugby was keen to point out that improvement is required.

“Well, if you look at tonight’s performance, tactically we didn’t maximise our performance,” said Erasmus.

“We have two left-footed players in the team with Zeebs [Simon Zebo] and Scans [Rory Scannell], we’ve got Tyler [Bleyendaal] and Conor [Murray], and we just sat in our own half and Glasgow pinned us down.

“So, potential is not just individual, it’s strategic as a team and as a management team making and executing a plan. Tonight, probably tactically we were only 5o-60% there, but then again we were 100% maximising our guts.”

There he goes again, finding the positive note to end on after informing us that his team left 40% of their collective potential behind in a crucial fixture.

Erasmus was not looking to pour cold water over Munster’s achievement, but simply sees plenty of room for growth. He believes the province will need to be more clinical if they are to go deep in this competition.

“The defence was good but I thought our breakdown wasn’t great at stages. I thought our tactical kicking wasn’t great and I thought when we did get into their half, we didn’t get the points when we were there.

Erasmus wants Munster to use their kicking options more effectively. Source: Inpho/Billy Stickland

“We were there four or five times in the first half and we only got six points. When the big moments are there, you don’t get a lot of chances and in the quarter-finals again you will only get a few moments, so when you get there you can’t come away without three, five or seven points. So, those big moments in this game almost cost us.”

While always looking for those opportunities to improve, Erasmus did stress the pride Munster feel at returning to the quarter-finals, with this weekend’s home clash with Racing 92 providing the opportunity to secure a home draw.

“It’s a credit to the players and everybody involved in Munster. I don’t want to say that like it sounds like we achieved something already, but as a team one of the targets was to win more games than we did last year.

“I think Axel will be so proud tonight, you know, that we actually went through and we won the pool. We’ll see how far we can get now.”