Craig Casey will undergo knee surgery this week after Munster confirmed their scrumhalf suffered a meniscus injury after half an hour of last Friday’s 16-14 Champions Cup defeat in Castres.
The extent of Casey’s absence will only be properly determined after he undergoes surgery, but the good news is that it’s not an ACL injury, as had been initially feared when he was carried off the pitch.
The scrumhalf could be back playing in four to six weeks, depending on the extent of the surgery and the tear, but the fear remains that Casey will be sidelined for months rather than weeks. He looks to be in a race against time for to be available for Ireland’s opening Six Nations game at home to England on February 1st.
The province have also confirmed that winger Thaakir Abrahams suffered a dislocated shoulder last Friday night “and will undergo scans this week to determine the need for surgery” so likewise it is not possibly to accurately determine how long he will be sidelined. However, it if he has to undergo open surgery, he could be out of action for four months or so, ala Mack Hansen last season.
Short-term signing Dian Bleuler was removed after failing his HIA and is following the return to play protocols. “He is not available for selection this week,” according to the province, while hooker Diarmuid Barron passed his HIA and will be monitored this week following a shoulder injury.
“His availability will be determined later in the week,” added the statement, and the same is true of Peter O’Mahony, who suffered “a calf contusion”
Jean Kleyn is seeing a specialist after suffering a thigh injury last week, while Liam Coombes underwent surgery last week after sustaining a chest muscle injury in AIL action earlier this month.
To compound Casey’s absence, Conor Murray (elbow) remains unavailable.
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