MUNSTER AND IRELAND flanker Peter O’Mahony is ‘touch and go’ to play the start of the new Pro12 season.
The 26-year-old, who has been captain of his province for the last three years, missed the majority of last season with a knee injury picked up in the World Cup pool clash against France in October.
It had originally been hoped that the Corkman would make Ireland’s summer tour of South Africa, but a setback in his recovery has left Munster’s new director of rugby Rassie Erasmus pencilling O’Mahony in for a return in mid September, rather than the opening weekend.
“He’s touch and go until (Pro12) round two or three,” Erasmus said in Munster’s UL base yesterday.
“We won’t push it, we will be conservative with him because he is such a leader in the team. It’s a long few months ahead.”
‘Touch and go’ is also the rating Erasmus puts against Francis Saili’s name, placing them on a similar return date to Munster’s international contingent. However, while Tyler Bleyendaal has progressed further along the road to recovery than at any point since moving to Munster, there is some concern over Mark Chisholm, who is suffering symptoms of a concussion sustained in March.
It’s a medical thing we’re all waiting on. It’s tough to give an answer on that. It’s the same as last year at this stage. We don’t have a date dotted down there which is worrying for everyone, for Mark, ourselves, the club, everybody. Unfortunately he still has some symptoms and he’s not ready yet.”
With Johnny Holland nursing a hamstring and Ireland U20 out-half Bill Johnston sidelined recovering from a shoulder injury, Munster are thin on number 10 cover for Ian Keatley. The tentative returning steps of Bleyendaal could prove very timely for the new man at the helm.
“You all would know better than me that Tyler hasn’t played a lot in the last couple of seasons since he arrived here.
“As far as I understand, in comparing with previous years he is the furthest he has progressed with that injury, without having any real side effects and being on target.
“So we are very hopeful and he is definitely in line for the second warm-up game (v Worcester in Cork, 26 August) so when the season starts he should be ready.”
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