MUNSTER SAY THEY’RE hopeful that Tommy O’Donnell will only have to contend with a short-term absence due to his ankle problem, but the news isn’t as positive for two of the province’s other injury concerns.
Both Robin Copeland and Sam Arnold are set for lengthy lay-offs after the pair sustained injuries while playing for the Munster ‘A’ side in last weekend’s British & Irish Cup game against Doncaster.
Copeland will undergo surgery on a thumb injury next week. The issue is expected to keep the former Cardiff Blues back-row forward sidelined for six-to-seven weeks.
Arnold’s latest setback — a knee injury — is likely to rule him out for around eight weeks. The 20-year-old centre, who joined Munster from Ulster last summer, missed the early stages of this season due to a knee problem and had to wait until November for his competitive debut.
O’Donnell was forced off after 48 minutes of Munster’s European Champions Cup win away to Racing 92 last weekend, having shipped a blow to his right ankle. The 29-year-old flanker will subsequently miss tomorrow’s meeting with Glasgow Warriors, with Jack O’Donoghue taking his place in the back-row.
But according to this afternoon’s update from Munster, O’Donnell merely sustained a sprained ankle so “it is hoped the injury will only require a short-term rehab”.
