I'm fit despite car scare says Rocky
Sportsfile
Rocky Elsom pictured in action yesterday at Leinster's squad training session at the RDS.
Related Articles
Leinster star Rocky Elsom says he is fit and ready for Saturday’s Heineken Cup showdown with Leicester in Edinburgh despite being involved in a serious car accident this week.
The Evening Herald columnist, who was named as the Leinster Player of the Season recently, was driving his Opel through the junction at Donnybrook Church when he was struck by a van travelling in the direction of the city centre.
The van driver did manage to hit the brakes but skidded into the driver’s door of Elsom’s car.
“I took a bit of a blow to the head but all the airbags went off, so I’m okay,” said a relieved Rocky this morning. “The car is a write-off though, I’m afraid.
“My leg was sore after the Munster game but that has also cleared up so I’m fit and ready for Saturday’s match.”
The news will come as a welcome relief for Michael Cheika, who included Elsom in his squad for Saturday, named yesterday.
“Rocky is back,” said Cheika. “He did contact work today and everyone's good.
“We've got a lot of options, and one thing I do know is that whatever way we start we will have the ability to change the game from the bench if we have to because whoever starts from the bench will be able to bring something.
“We have done nothing different in the preparation. Obviously it's slightly different logistically because a lot of the guys didn't play last weekend, so we've had a different kind of build-up. It has been a long season so it's important to try to keep the guys as fresh as possible.
“We believe in ourselves. The only guarantee that you can get in this game is that we try to go out and give everything that we've got in the final. We know that it's our first time here and that Leicester are very experienced so we understand where we are. We've got to prepare our mental state so that we give them a real run for their money.”
Cheika also warned of the danter posed posed to Leinster by Tigers’ Irish international full-back Geordan Murphy.
“Geordan is a very explosive player – you're talking about a formidable opponent there,” said the Leinster coach.
