Marcus Horan was replaced mid-way through the opening half of Munster’s Heineken Cup Pool match against Treviso at Thomond Park last month after reportedly feeling unwell.
Sixty six times capped Horan has been undergoing medical tests away from the Limerick-based Irish camp this week and the results of those tests are expected to be known this Friday.
Ireland will face Australia in the first of three games in the Guinness autumn international series on Sunday, November 15.
Irish coach Declan Kidney explained: “There are on-going investigations and, not being a medic, I wouldn’t know (exactly what is wrong). I know that Marcus is not able to train and it is just prudent. He is just getting looked after and as soon as we know more we will let you know. In this job you can’t afford to rule guys out until they are definitely out. He would need to be active next week to be involved with it.
“The investigations are taking place and the latest that we have is that they will have something concrete on Friday. I would only be adding to the rumours if I was to come out and say something now.
“But I was talking to him - he’s in good form - giving out to me as much as ever. He’s just not medically right. Sometimes you can talk about injuries in terms of calves and muscles, but this is something else. What it is I just don’t know yet.”
Jerry Flannery setback
Speaking at a press conference at the Carlton Castletroy Park Hotel this Wednesday, Kidney also explained that Munster hooker Jerry Flannery had a setback in training this week.
Flannery hasn’t played since tearing his calf against Northampton in Munster’s opening Heineken Cup pool match in the middle of last month.
Flannery will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness before the clash with the Wallabies at Croke Park.
Kidney revealed that the Irish medical staff have had a number of injuries and ailments to deal with over the first two days of the Limerick camp.
“We have a number of players who are at different stages - Tomas (O’Leary), Paddy Wallace and Denis Leamy have colds,” Declan Kidney said.
“We got through training okay this morning (Wednesday), but we just had to work our way through it.
“With the lads playing last weekend, and that’s what we would have wanted as you don’t want to go too long without a game, but you don’t want to cut it too short either.
“Rob (Kearney) was out, Gordon D’Arcy played a little bit of a part this morning as did Brian (O’Driscoll). The non-contact stuff basically for the two of those.
“Tony Buckley is rehabbing away (on a calf injury) and that’s probably one of the more long-term ones. It will probably be a week or so before he gets back into it. Jerry (Flannery) didn’t tog out today, Leo Cullen is rehabbing and Paddy Wallace will hopefully get back into things tomorrow.”
Team captain
Declan Kidney also confirmed that Brian O’Driscoll will continue as Ireland captain for their opening internationals of the new season.
Coach Kidney said: “Paul (O’Connell) has captained the Lions and captained Munster quite well, Donncha (O’Callaghan) has captained the Lions and Ronan (O’Gara) has captained the Lions. Ronan has captained with Munster and Ireland also.
“In Brian’s case, he brings a lot of experience to it, like the other lads would do, he is motoring well at the moment so we just felt it prudent.
“It’s been a long time since we were together, six or seven months, so, for continuity and for a whole host of reasons really, we decided to stay with him.”
But the Irish management team will continue to take a series by series approach to the captaincy, meaning that they may opt for a new man when Ireland defend their Six Nations title in the spring.
“It’s like we dealt with it last year, it is just on a series by series basis,” Kidney continued.
“That helps in Brian’s case, too, as it doesn’t heap pressure on him for a whole year and allows him to come in and be captain and then just get on with his game in December and January. We will see him again come February, but I think any one of a host of guys could actually do that.”
Ireland’s current 39-man squad will be whittled down to 30 players this Friday, with the team and replacements to face Australia being named on Wednesday afternoon.
Munster A
James Coughlan will lead Munster A, in their final before the start of the British and Irish Cup, when they take on Ulster in Musgrave Park on Friday afternoon (2pm).
The side shows just five changes, three in the backs and two up front, from the one that saw off Leinster 21-15 last time out in Clonmel RFC.
Ian Nagle- injured on that occasion- returns to partner Dave Foley in the second row, while the experienced Damien Varley comes into the front row in place of Mike Sherry who is included on the bench.
In the backs, injury rules Duncan Williams out and Paul Rowley steps up to partner Declan Cusack while coach Anthony Foley can call on senior international Denis Hurley and A international Felix Jones to replace Danny Barnes and Ronan O’Mahony respectively.
O’Mahony is named on the bench and Barnes will be on duty tomorrow for the Munster Academy when they take on the Ireland U20s in Athlone.
Munster A: Danny Riordan; Felix Jones,Tom Gleeson, Scott Deasy, Denis Hurley; Declan Cusack, Paul Rowley; Dave Kilcoyne, Damian Varley, Stephen Archer; Ian Nagle, Dave Foley; Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell, James Coughlan (Capt).
Replacements: Mike Sherry, Christy Condon, Kieran Essex, Pater O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ronan O’Mahony, Eric Maloney.
Colm Kinsella
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