Leo Cullen expects Tadhg Furlong to be fit for Ireland's meeting with world champions South Africa despite concerns over the ankle injury that caused him to miss Leinster's win over Munster.
Furlong was a late withdrawal ahead of the Munster game after rolling his ankle in training and Leinster confirmed on Monday that he will undergo further assessment by the IRFU’s medical team.
Injured trio Josh van der Flier, Hugo Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park will also be assessed by the IRFU as they step up their rehabilitation this week.
Ireland begin their Bank of Ireland Nations Series against the Springboks on 5 November and Cullen is confident Furlong will be passed fit to face the world champions.
The Leinster head coach said: "Tadhg was very close to making the [Munster] game, he just rolled his ankle on Thursday. Another day we would have taken that... it’s not even a chance, he would have played the game.
"We took a cautious decision there and Tadhg should be okay to go this week."
'We made tough work of it at certain stages' - Leo Cullen was pleased with how his team fought back from 13-7 down to get past Munster pic.twitter.com/RZ3SIDavWS
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 22, 2022
Cullen, meanwhile, said he had "started a conversation" with BKT United Rugby Championship officials as he seeks clarification over the incident involving Jean Kleyn and Jamie Osborne during Saturday’s derby at the Aviva Stadium.
Munster lock Kleyn was sin-binned after dangerously colliding with Osborne, having jumped to try and charge down the Leinster wing’s kick.
Osborne has entered the graduated return-to-play protocols and will miss Friday’s game away to the Scarlets.
"There’s mixed views on that incident, depending on who you talk to," said Cullen. "The officials managed the situation pretty well in the game.
"When you have actions nowadays, the main thing is for players to understand is that the accidental piece is not acceptable anymore.
"It was dealt with on the day. We’ve started the conversation there today again.
"Jamie is okay. He was a bit groggy at the time, hence [why] he didn’t return to the field. He’s doing okay today."
Leinster travel to Wales looking to end the opening block of URC fixtures with a seventh successive victory.
It will be a much-changed team to the one that beat Munster, however, with Cullen minus his Ireland contingent and poised to hand out some debuts at Parc y Scarlets.
"It means so much for [the younger] to get the opportunity in the first place," said Cullen. "Many of the guys have had to bide their time, some I'm sure were very close to getting called into the Ireland squad as well. They still have a point to prove.
"These are the weeks where there is great energy in the building. It's a different type of energy because the young guys have to step forward, and it’s great they have the space to do that now. I’m really looking forward to seeing how some guys go this week.
"Some players will be disappointed they haven’t got selected [for Ireland] but it’s a window for them to showcase what they can do, and for young guys getting into the team, in some cases for the very first time.
"Hopefully we’ll have a few guys in the 23 this week that will get a chance to represent Leinster for the first time. Everyone needs to feed off that level of excitement, the nervous energy that they bring."
Watch Munster v Ulster and Ospreys v Connacht in the BKT United Rugby Championship on Saturday 29 October from 4.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
