Munster consider options at nine following Sheridan injury

Following

Cathal Sheridan

undergoing surgery yesterday evening after breaking a bone in his right forearm in Sunday’s

League victory against Ospreys, Munster must now dig deeper into their reserves for a replacement scrumhalf.

In a similar vein but less pressing on resources, Leinster will also have to do without Kevin McLaughlin after he broke his nose last week and also had to undergo surgery. McLaughlin picked up a facial injury in Leinster’s win over Cardiff and underwent a medical procedure in St. Vincent’s Hospital. He is expected to be back in contention for Leinster’s match against Zebre at the end of March

Munster are now playing wait and see with regard to filling the scrumhalf position while first choice Conor Murray remains in the Irish camp.

Sheridan, will miss the rest of the season after further examination by doctors revealed the extent of the broken bone and that it required surgery. He is expected to be ruled out for approximately three to four months.

Coach Rob Penney has Duncan Williams and Gerry Hurley available to him, although both are inexperienced at the top level.

Clean bill of health
In Dublin the Leinster squad trained in UCD ahead of Saturday's league game against fifth-placed Glasgow. Apart from McLaughlin, Leinster coach Matt O'Connor otherwise reported a clean bill of health.

Players released from the Irish camp by Joe Schmidt– including props Martin Moore and Jack McGrath, flanker Jordi Murphy, wing Fergus McFadden and hooker Sean Cronin – also trained as normal.

In Ulster coach Mark Anscombe is not only waiting on Tommy Bowe but also on New Zealand backrow and prop, Nick Williams and John Afoa. The two Kiwis travelled home last week for personal reasons and didn’t feature in Ulster’s narrow win in Italy over the weekend. It is not known if they are available this week.

Anscombe can expect Paddy Jackson and Iain Henderson to seek game time after some relatively quiet weeks on the Irish bench, although both players did appear against England.