Listen to the full interview via the Monday Night Rugby podcast.
Leinster and Ireland suffered a body blow today with the news that Sean O'Brien is going to miss most of the upcoming Six Nations campaign and key Heineken Cup games.
The flanker is out for 6 - 8 weeks and on Off The Ball tonight, ex-Ireland head coach Eddie O'Sullivan believes current incumbent Joe Schmidt must plan with O'Brien:
"He's world class with the ball and he's a fantastic poacher and is very abrasive. He'll be a huge loss for the Six Nations and he's the only player in our back row who can go toe to toe with our opponents in the Six Nations. There's little wriggle room in the back row if there are many more injuries. If it's two months, you can hardly throw him in. Joe Schmidt must start planning without him."
Meanwhile, Bernard Jackman who is based in France, reckons the proposed departure of Jamie Heaslip to France is a bigger issue for Leinster than it is for the IRFU.
"I don't think [the deals] are close to being done but there are two interested parties: Montpellier and Toulon. If they get Jamie they're going to have to make him a good offer. I think he'd like to stay in Ireland. But Jamie has a good injury profile and is very consistent. [In France] we try to balance their output and give them little breaks. There is no benefit to run guys into the ground. The IRFU won't lose out massively if Heaslip leaves but Leinster will."
But Eddie still has concerns about Heaslip's long-term form and well-being if he does move to the Top 14.
"We've seen Jonny Sexton has been played to death. There is a higher risk for a back row player and the French game is brutally physical and the attrition rate is high. The spectre is similar to Wales where there is a hemorrhage of players. It's a disaster for us and the Pro 12 if there is an exodus of players."
The lads also touched on the weekend's inter-pro action, the performance of Leinster youngster Jordi Murphy and the way team selection in those games "diluted" and "devalued" the Rabo Pro 12.
