Leinster duo Porter and McCarthy to miss Six Nations opener

Kenneth Fox

Leinster's and Ireland's depth will both be tested over the next few weeks, as props Andrew Porter and Paddy McCarthy are out due to injury.

Porter could be absent for a couple of months after suffering a calf injury in training, while McCarthy suffered a foot injury during Leinster's win over La Rochelle last weekend.

Jack Boyle could return for Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup clash with Bayonne at Stade Jean-Dauger at 3:15pm Irish time. 

Speaking this week. Leinster attack coach Tyler Bleyendaal admitted that the calf injury Andrew Porter picked up in training last week "didn't look promising" amid a growing front row predicament for Ireland in the build up to the Guinness Six Nations.

The New Zealander also said fellow international Paddy McCarthy's foot injury "didn't look great." The prop sustained what the province describe as a "significant foot injury".

Porter missed that match as a result of his own setback and both he and McCarthy will be assessed before further confirmation on the extent of their respective injuries.

"Yeah, obviously, Paddy's didn't look too great for him to come off immediately, so hopefully we get some clarity in the next few days," Bleyendaal said.

"We're hoping for the best, but it really didn't look too great to be honest, and Ports the same.

"To come out late in the week with that injury and again, waiting for the official kind of diagnosis, but it didn't look promising that it was going to be a quick turnaround.

"So we're going to have to dig in, and it's next man up, and we're going to have to find a way.

"I thought the guys on the weekend did a great job, and Jerry (Cahir) came on and he put his best foot forwar,d and we're going to have to just dig deep into the depth, and we've got some guys coming back as well.

"So we lose some, we get some, and whoever is available is going to have to do their best."

McCarthy's injury comes at a time when the 22-year-old has built up real momentum for province and nation, having been rewarded with four caps during Ireland's Autumn Nations Series campaign.