RTÉ Sport reports Caelan Doris is in doubt for Ireland’s trip to Australia after lasting just seven minutes of Leinster’s 36-7 United Rugby Championship final win over the Bulls. The Leinster captain left with an injury to his right leg, and his status for next week now hangs on a later check.
Leinster still finished the job at Croke Park, sealing their 10th United Rugby Championship title and putting last month’s Champions Cup final loss to Bordeaux behind them. Doris called it a special day, but his own night ended almost as soon as it began.
Seven minutes for Doris
Doris had been passed fit for the game despite carrying a knee problem. He then said the knee was fine, adding: “My foot got the better of me”.
That left the Ireland captain facing a different question from the one that opened the final. Asked whether he would make Andy Farrell’s plane for Australia for the inaugural Nations Championship next week, he answered: “We’ll see”. He also said his injury would need a check later, after first having “a few beers with the boys”.
Prendergast drives Leinster
Sam Prendergast was named man of the match after an 11-point haul as Leinster pulled clear of the Bulls. Doris said the squad effort was central to the win, saying the players were on it physically from the start and that several stood up massively.
The captain’s absence after seven minutes is the sharper issue now. Leinster banked the trophy, but Ireland are left waiting on the fitness of the player who leads them into Australia.
