A scan on Monday will reveal the extent of the problem but should complications arise, his participation in the 2012 Six Nations would be doubtful.

O’Driscoll meanwhile, was a notable absentee from the Leinster squad on Friday, since when fears have arisen that he may require surgery on his shoulder.

Leinster boss Joe Schimdt admitted: "That [surgery] is one of the things we are trying to decipher at the moment.

"That's the reason he has gone to some more specialists and had some more scans. We want to make sure we don't play him in the condition that's going to affect him in the future."

"He's copped a few shots where he hasn't really been ready for the contact.

"There was one in the Magners final last year which gave him a bit of whiplash and that didn't help either.

“Every time we've kind of got him right, something's happened – whether it's been a full impact or it's been an unexpected impact, it has caused discomfort. We just want to get him back to 100 per cent."