Killian Keane could be sidelined for up to a month after sustaining a suspected fracture in his left index finger during training with Munster yesterday. The international centre has thus been ruled out of Munster's return European Cup fixture with Colomiers this Saturday in Cork, and will also almost certainly miss Garryowen's re-run of last season's AIB League final with Cork Constitution over Christmas.
"The diagnosis is that Killian will be in plaster for three to four weeks," confirmed Munster's manager Brian O'Brien yesterday. "It's a bad blow to us," he added, sentiments which are sure to be also expressed by Garryowen.
John Hayes, who sustained a back injury during last Saturday's 31-16 win over Colomiers in Toulouse, is also doubtful although Munster are more hopeful about Peter Clohessy's improving neck injury. Keith Wood's absence from training yesterday with a slight shoulder injury was described as precautionary, and he will be in the starting team which may be announced today.
Colomiers will perhaps give a debut to their recent New Zealand signing, the big mobile prop Jeremy Tomule, although captain Fabien Galthie may again be ruled out with a knee injury, partly in deference to the subsequent French championship game with Aurilliac the following Wednesday.
A huge crowd is expected at Musgrave Park for the all-conquering Munster-men, and although Munster's sole Euro reverse on home soil came at the Cork venue two seasons ago, O'Brien points out that "we've been getting phenomenal support from the Cork public and we've actually got a great record there in recent years."
Indeed, it's worth stressing how less reliant Munster have become on the Thomond factor. For example, their 100 per cent record in their inter-provincial campaign this season saw them win at six different grounds, and Saturday's win thus means they've recorded eight of their nine competitive victories this season at different venues.
"The perception may have been that we were a bit one-dimensional in the past," conceded O'Brien of the Thomond factor, "but you have to change that and you have to be able to win away from home if you're ever going to achieve anything."
"There's no reason why Irish sides can't win on English and French soil and hopefully we've overcome a mental block now. There are risks involved in the game that we are trying to play but you have to take risks if you're going to win away."
By comparison, Ulster's season of woes seems to know no bounds and it has now come to light that Harry Williams's mother was taken ill on Friday afternoon, as was the Ulster manager John Kinnear on Friday night. Kinnear is undergoing tests in hospital but is recovering well. Further bad news came on Monday when the father of the team's fitness adviser, Mike Bull, passed away.
Nonetheless, the Ulster team to play Llanelli at Stradey Park is expected to be announced today, with Ulster's main injury concerns being hooker Allen Clarke (shoulder) and number eight Tony McWhirter (badly bruised calf).
Similarly, Leinster coach Mike Ruddock is weighing up his options before announcing his side for the return clash with Stade Francais at Donnybrook on Saturday night.
Half-back may be an area the Leinster coach will focus on after bringing on Stu Forster and Emmet Farrell for the last quarter in Paris on Sunday.
Emmet Byrne's back injury is liable to rule him out again, although Leinster are more optimistic about Gary Halpin, Victor Costello and Malcolm O'Kelly recovering from an assortment of knocks. Despite the unflattering 39-6 loss, Leinster saw enough, in the first half especially, to believe they can bring down the strong Parisian outfit.
Similarly, Connacht have a variety of bumps, bruises and scars from their encounter with Toulon ahead of Saturday night's return meeting in France. Coach Glenn Ross finalises his starting line-up today or tomorrow.
On the domestic front, the Division Two programme has again been truncated by the European-enforced cancellation of the Old Crescent-Galwegians and Wanderers-Belfast Harlequins' games. This affords the unbeaten early pace-setters, City of Derry, another chance to plough further ahead with the visit of Bective Rangers to Judge's Road on Saturday as the next three in the table are all idle.
UCC seek a third competitive win in eight days, in part on three different fronts, when they travel to UCD in a fixture which also doubles up as a Dudley Cup tie.
