Stander Requires Further Assessment For Ankle Sprain
In reviewing the bumps and bruises from Munster’s Champions Cup quarter-final victory over Toulouse, CJ Stander requires further assessment for an ankle sprain, while captain Peter O’Mahony and Dave Kilcoyne (both dead legs) and Keith Earls (back) are all expected to be introduced to full training this week.
Scrum half Conor Murray continues to be monitored for the shoulder knock that ruled him out of Saturday’s last-eight encounter in Limerick.
Francis Saili will be hoping for further game-time this week after playing the final few minutes against Toulouse when he made an earlier-than-expected return to action after sustaining a knee injury against Cardiff Blues.
Similarly, Ian Keatley’s return from a knee injury sustained during the same GUINNESS PRO12 match has also progressed positively with the out-half due to take a further part in training this week.
Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said: “CJ is only going for scans today and we won’t know about him until later. Peter O’Mahony has a dead leg, one of the nastier dead legs I have seen in a while but he has a good chance for this week (against Glasgow Warriors).
“Until the Captain’s Run, we really thought Conor Murray might pull through. And this week I don’t want to say, we will give him until the last minute again because he is a really important part of our team and Duncan (Williams) has clocked up a lot of minutes and contact this season.
“It would be great to get Conor out there and we will give him until the last minute to see if can he get through this week. He must get some game-time with us.
“Keith Earls wasn’t too bad after Saturday, it was his back and a little bit of a groin but he is good to go. And Ian Keatley is not back yet but he is starting to train with us more this week and hopefully by next week he will be available.”
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Munster Academy out-half Bill Johnston fractured his fibula during Friday night’s British & Irish Cup semi-final win for the province’s A’ team against Ealing Trailfinders.
Short-term scrum half signing Te Aihe Toma completes his time with the province this week and will return to his native New Zealand. Jean Kleyn (neck), Dave Foley (wrist), Keatley (knee), Sean McCarthy (knee) and Mike Sherry (back) all continue to rehab their respective injuries.