Leamy, who had been sidelined since injuring his knee in Munster’s Heineken Cup clash away to Perpignan last December, returned in style at Musgrave Park on Friday night when bagging an opportunist try in his side’s narrow defeat to the Tigers.
The 28-year-old will continue his comeback this Friday night when Tony McGahan’s men host Aviva Premiership side Gloucester in a second pre-season friendly at Musgrave Park (7pm).
“We have a lot of things to work on ahead of the game with Gloucester,” Denis Leamy said.
“It was great to captain the side against Leicester. I am just taking it one game at a time. I will see where I am in six weeks or two months time and will reassess things then.
“I think there were a lot of positives from the game with Leicester. We came up against a strong line-up. We had a lot of lads here who are in their first few years with Munster and we also had a blend of the older players with them.
“All in all there were a lot of positives to take from the performance.
“My knee felt fine. I am delighted to get 70 minutes under my belt. Hopefully it’s a case of onwards and upwards for me from here.
“Like everyone out there I was stuck for breath a few times and my legs did feel like jelly during the long phases of play, but it was great to get that competitive playing time.
“In the days leading up to the match, I did not think about the game much. I did not want to get too anxious about it or get too worried about the what ifs. I just went out and tried to play. I am delighted to get it over me. I trust my knee know and that is a big positive.”
Munster coach Tony McGahan explained that he expected to re-introduce up to eight new faces into the squad for Friday night’s clash with Gloucester. More experienced heads will come back into the squad for the Magners League opener with Aironi Rugby in the first weekend in September while the remainder will be available for the second fixture in the competition a week later. And, coach McGahan said he was delighted with how Denis leamy’s comeback had gone.
“Denis was immense. I thought he led the side very well,” Tony McGahan enthused.
“He has been chomping at the bit to get back into rugby. Unfortunately when he got injured Denis was playing tremendous rugby.
“James Coughlan stepped in and did a fantastic job. You have young Paddy Butler and Peter O’Mahony who are coming through the ranks. David Wallace can play at eight as well, so we are well served in that area.”
Meanwhile, an X-ray on Keith Earls’ ankle injury this week has revealed no new break. Earls picked up the injury in a non-contact situation during rehabilitation work on an existing groin problem on Monday in Cork.
The utility back will need to undergo further medical examination later in the week to determine the full extent of the damage.
The IRFU has confirmed that the injury happened during training with the Munster squad, and not with the Ireland squad, who are currently involved in a 35-man camp in Belfast.
Munster lock Paul O’Connell, who was confirmed as the side’s skipper for this season once again, is expected to be to be sidelined until December due to a troublesome groin infection.
The 30-year-old is set to miss the opening half of the Magners League programme, Munster’s opening two fixtures in the Heineken Cup and Ireland’s autumn internationals against South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina.
Should O’Connell return in early December his first game back could be the December 4 Magners League clash with the Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park - a week ahead of the third round of the Heineken Cup against the Ospreys at Thomond Park.
Meanwhile, Munster Rugby received a boost prior to the start of the competitive season when Toyota Ireland announced that it is to extend its partnership with the province until June 2013 in a sponsorship deal worth €5.75million.
Toyota’s partnership with Munster - worth €5.75 million over the next three seasons - includes title sponsorship of senior Munster Rugby teams competing in the Magner’s League, Heineken Cup and British and Irish Cup.
The three-year deal will bring Toyota’s investment to well beyond €13 million since they came on board as principal sponsors in July 2004.
Colm Kinsella
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