RUGBY:MUNSTER COACH Tony McGahan will have until tomorrow lunchtime to officially confirm a replacement for the injured Jerry Flannery ahead of the final two pool matches in the Heineken Cup, starting with this Sunday's trip to Toulon.
Flannery’s calf injury, sustained against Ulster in the Magners League game at Thomond Park, will see him sidelined for up to six weeks. McGahan must decide whether to replace him in the squad for the games against Toulon and London Irish with a third hooker, Sligo-born academy prospect Seán Henry, or opt to register New Zealand prop Peter Borlase instead.
It would constitute something of a gamble for Munster to have just two fit hookers in Damien Varley and Mike Sherry as an injury to either during the next fortnight would cause a massive issue in selection terms and potential problems with the tournament’s governing body, ERC.
John Hayes picked up a knock during Saturday night’s victory over the Glasgow Warriors but his withdrawal after the interval was considered precautionary and he should be available for selection, as will Doug Howlett, who cried off prior to kick-off on Saturday night. Paul O’Connell will return to the squad having served his four-week suspension.
Leinster coach Joe Schmidt will be hoping Jamie Heaslip, Cian Healy and Jonathan Sexton all shake off injuries ahead of the province’s European clash with Saracens at the RDS on Saturday. Healy went into the victory over the Ospreys bothered by a slight hamstring strain and his game time, which he successfully negotiated, was limited to 40 minutes.
Heaslip aggravated the ankle injury he sustained against Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel Michelin last month when an Ospreys player landed on the joint in tackling the Irishman. The Ireland and Leinster number eight has proved to be a quick healer in the past but a more definitive prognosis will be available today.
Sexton missed last Wednesday’s training session with a calf strain and although he played against the Welsh franchise on Friday night, kicking all 15 points, he was withdrawn before the end. He is expected to be fine for the Saracens match.
Seán O’Brien, who missed the Ospreys game with an eyebrow laceration, will be available for selection. Saracens warmed up for the Leinster match with a hard-fought 12-6 victory over London Irish at Vicarage Road yesterday.
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin doesn’t appear to have any additional injury concerns ahead of their massive pool clash with Biarritz Olympique at Ravenhill on Saturday. Stephen Ferris showed no ill effects after his recent injury when coming on as a second-half replacement in the win over Benetton Treviso.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney will be hoping the ankle injury that saw Leicester Tigers fullback and captain Geordan Murphy stretchered from the pitch late on in his side’s victory over Northampton Saints is not as bad as first feared.
Tigers coach Richard Cockerill admitted: “Geordan went over on his ankle. We are hoping for the best but it’s too early to say the extent of his injury.”
Kidney will be keen to ascertain the extent of any damage as he is already without Leinster’s Rob Kearney for the start of the Six Nations Championship.
