RUGBY NEWS:MUNSTER'S GROWING prop crisis failed to improve over the couple of days since defeating Treviso in Thomond Park. For what was such a sizeable victory in the end took more out of Munster than they could have ever imagined and it seems certain they will have to dip into their pool of academy players for a frontrow to line out in Edinburgh this weekend.
It looks as though former Ireland under-20 prop Stephen Archer could be called upon to fill an increasingly big hole in the Munster scrum.
Archer played in Friday night’s Munster A win over Leinster in Clonmel under the watchful eyes of coach Anthony Foley and manager Mick Galwey. He is now likely to receive a plane ticket with his name on it for the flight to Edinburgh.
Archer did play for Munster when he lined out in a pre-season friendly against Sale Sharks in Thomond Park in August.
With none of their Ireland international players or members of the Churchill Cup-winning Ireland A side available, Archer formed the frontrow with Dave Ryan playing at loosehead and Damian Varley at hooker.
The suspension of John Hayes ensures the Ireland tighthead prop cannot lineout, while Marcus Horan continues to undergo precautionary tests after he took a knock on the head and was replaced after 18 minutes.
The prop appeared capable of playing on in the immediate aftermath, but when he complained of dizziness he was replaced and taken to a Limerick hospital, where he was kept overnight as a precautionary measure.
“Marcus will undergo further tests this week. His trip to hospital was precautionary and he is unlikely to play at the weekend,” said a Munster spokesman.
Munster will have three props unavailable as Tony Buckley’s injured calf also continued to be investigated with scans yesterday. Coach Tony McGahan is expected to know more today but Munster are bracing themselves for more bad news on that front.
Darragh Hurley, who would have been expected to come into the frontrow, has not started a game for Munster this season because of injury, while loosehead Ryan is unavailable as he recovers from a dislocated elbow.
Of less concern, short-term is the absence of Doug Howlett, who hobbled off the pitch with a hamstring injury. Munster have plenty of quality cover in the backline.
Their priority is to have Howlett fit for the matches ahead rather than try and rush him back for the Magners League resumption. Munster are hopeful he has not torn the muscle.
Ulster, who face Leinster in a return to the Magners League on Saturday, have also been given a clean bill of health. There were initial concerns over Ireland and Lion backrow Stephen Ferris, who hurt an ankle in the round two Heineken Cup meeting with Edinburgh in Murrayfield.
Ferris, who missed most of the Lions tour through injury, has been cleared for training today, as has winger Timoci Nagusa. Nagusa took a knock to his shoulder in Saturday’s defeat but is also expected to take a full part in today’s session.
Brian Mujati, the Northampton Saints replacement prop, is due to appear at an independent disciplinary hearing arising from his club’s second-round game against French club Perpignan on Friday.
The citing is for an alleged push on the back of referee Nigel Owens during the match.
His colleague in the secondrow, Juandre Kruger, will also face a charge of alleged stamping on Perpignan scrumhalf Nicolas Durand in the same game.
Both hearings will take place as soon as is practicable.
Northampton currently sit in third place in Munster’s Heineken Cup Pool One. However, the Irish province face Perpignan at home in their next match in December, with the English club playing Treviso in Franklin Gardens.
