LEINSTER HAVE not yet ruled out their South African World Cup winning prop CJ van der Linde from their pivotal meeting with Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday. Following the weekend’s bonus-point wins by both sides, Munster lead Leinster by three points at the top of the Magner’s League table with most teams having five matches remaining.
Van der Linde came off the bench for Stan Wright to join Cian Healy and hooker Bernard Jackman during Leinster’s 32-6 win against Ulster on Sunday. But he lasted a matter of minutes before being forced out of the match with an injured toe.
It was just the prop’s eighth game of the season because of a toe injury and of those eight he has played only three full matches, in September and October of 2008. He played full games against Munster and Connacht in the Magners League, and in the pool stages of the Heineken Cup against Edinburgh. But in Leinster’s away game against Wasps at Adams Park, he was replaced by Healy and since then it has proven to be a frustrating time for the prop and Leinster coach Michael Cheika.
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Leinster not ready to rule out Van der Linde
Leinster not ready to rule out Van der Linde
