Cullen backs Byrne to shine in Sexton's absence

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says he has full faith in Ross Byrne to steer the province for the rest of the season, as they continue their push for a URC and European double.

Captain Johnny Sexton has been ruled out for the rest of the club season after undergoing surgery on a groin injury this week, with Byrne set to lead the attack from the 10 shirt at the business end of this campaign, starting with Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 meeting with Ulster at a sold-out Aviva Stadium (5.30pm).

The 27-year-old has been in career-best form this season, returning to the Irish squad and playing in all five Six Nations games, while he also started each of Leinster's Champions Cup pool games in Sexton's absence, kicking 16 conversions.

Barring a miracle recovery between now and the end of May, Sexton looks certain to miss the rest of the season, but Cullen says he will still have a major role to play as captain of the group.

"He was down at training yesterday, on his crutches. Obviously, he had his surgery on Tuesday," the head coach said.

"Johnny will be influential, hopefully for the rest of the season. At the moment it's just week-on-week, isn't it?

"Hopefully Johnny will play a role, for the moment it's all about the here and the now so we're not really looking past tomorrow, so it's just geared up towards this game.

"It's part and parcel of the game, isn't it? We're lucky in terms of the squad we have."

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