MUNSTER ARE WAITING on the results of scans on hookers Mike Sherry and Duncan Casey as they prepare for this weekend’s visit to Paris to take on Stade Français in the Champions Cup.
Sherry, who has had a torturous recent injury history, was replaced during last Saturday’s bonus-point victory over Treviso in Limerick with a knee issue, while replacement Duncan Casey soon followed him off after suffering a pectoral injury.
Indeed, flanker Jack O’Donoghue had to finish the game at hooker in uncontested scrums.
Sherry and Casey have undergone scans and Munster are now waiting on the final results, though the outlook is pessimistic.
Should both fail to prove their fitness 23-year-old Niall Scannell is set for just his second start for the province – his first in the Champions Cup - with UL Bohs man Kevin O’Byrne in line for the bench spot.
Mike and Duncan came off with serious enough bangs. They’ve both been scanned at this stage, we’re just waiting on a report,” said head coach Anthony Foley in Limerick today.
“Mike was up at Ray Moran (one of the leading knee specialists in Ireland, based out of the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry, Dublin) today and we’re waiting for a report back on Duncan.
“We’ve an eight day turnaround to this game but he wouldn’t be hopeful, but we need to give it as much time as possible.”
Foley will definitely be without Kiwi out-half Tyler Bleyendaal for Sunday’s fixture in Stade Jean-Bouin, as he continues to struggle with a worrying quad injury.
Bleyendaal has made just three appearances this season, having picked up the quad injury during the warm-up before the Pro12 clash with Scarlets on 23 October. The former Crusaders playmaker has been out ever since and Munster say they are unsure over a definitive timeframe for his recovery.
Scrum-half Conor Murray and back row Dave O’Callaghan both sat out today’s training session in the University of Limerick, although Munster insist that was merely on the basis of managing their workloads after a heavy run of games in recent times.
Both players are said to be fit for the meeting with Stade Français.
Meanwhile, Munster captain Peter O’Mahony will finally undergo knee surgery on Friday, having torn his ACL during Ireland’s World Cup pool win over France on 11 October.
The province should have a clearer picture of how long the back row will be sidelined for following that operation.
