Prop Tony Buckley, who picked up a calf muscle injury against Treviso last weekend, is also doubtful for the home Magners League game against Ulster on Saturday, October 31.
Munster manager Shaun Payne explained that Marcus Horan would be having tests in Dublin this week having reported feeling unwell in the opening half of Saturday’s Heineken Cup pool one game at Thomond Park.
With another prop Dave Ryan also unavailable due to an elbow injury and John Hayes suspended Munster are left with two contracted props to call on - Darragh Hurley and Julien Brugnaut.
Stephen Archer, a member of the Munster Academy, has been included in the extended 26-man squad for the trip to Scotland. An additional prop will also be added, with the vacancy likely to be filled by Pa O’Regan or David Kilcoyne, who scored a try for the Munster A side in their victory over Leinster A in Clonmel last week.
Doug Howlett has also been included in squad for the game againsts Edinburgh despite picking up a hamstring injury at the weekend.
Shaun Payne has rated Doug Howlett’s chances of featuring at Murrayfield this Friday night as “50/50 at this stage”.
Felix Jones has also returned to the squad for the round six Magners League game.
Asked about the early difficulties Munster had experienced in the scrum against Treviso Payne said: “Yes, the first few scrums weren’t good, but you must remember Marcus (Horan) wasn’t himself obviously and once it settled down, I thought it went well. Don’t forget what that Treviso pack did to Perpignan the previous week.
“As well as that, in the Perpignan-Northampton game, in the early stages, Perpignan destroyed the Saints pack. But as the game went on they (Saints) settled down and were able to gain parity.
“The injuries to the props provides an opportunity for others.
“Julien Brugnaut is an experienced prop and I thought Darragh (Hurley) did extremely well when he came. And that’s always difficult. So now both have an opportunity.
“Of course you don’t like to be without your front line players, but we have the back up.”
Munster trained in Cork yesterday and fly out to Edinburgh tomorrow evening - Munster’s starting XV for the game will be announced at lunch time tomorrow.
In relation to the clash with Edinburgh Payne said: “We will be looking to move forward this weekend. We are a work in progress this season.
“We are improving each week and will be looking to improve on our performance against Treviso.
“Traditionally, we have done quite well in Edinburgh, although the games have tended to be very close.
“Looking at Edinburgh this season, they are a well-drilled, decent outfit. They have been playing well.
“It is a tough one on Friday night, a six day turnaround from our last game.”
Munster squad v Edinburgh: Felix Jones, Keith Earls, Doug Howlett, Denis Hurley, Ian Dowling, Jean de Villiers, Lifeimi Mafi, Paul Warwick, Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer, Tomas O’Leary, Nick Williams, David Wallace, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy, Alan Quinlan, Mick O’Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Damian Varley, Denis Fogarty, AN Other, Stephen Archer, Julien Brugnaut, Darragh Hurley.
Colm Kinsella
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment