Munster Step Up Preparations For PRO14 Trip To Parma
Munster return to GUINNESS PRO14 action away to Zebre on Sunday, with new head coach Johann van Graan joining the province this week ahead of his first game in charge.
The Munster squad started their preparations for the Zebre match on their return to training last Wednesday, and a number of players are continuing to progress with their rehab.
Jack O’Donoghue returns to training this week following a minor ankle injury sustained against Dragons earlier this month, while Ronan O’Mahony was back in on-field training last week as he continues his return from a fractured fibula injury.
Duncan Williams has a shoulder niggle and fellow half-back Tyler Bleyendaal’s neck injury is progressing well, but the duo will both miss the weekend’s GUINNESS PRO14 game in Parma.
Tommy O’Donnell (shoulder) will also miss the round 9 date with Zebre, although he is progressing well with his rehab from an AC joint injury sustained in Ireland camp.
James Cronin is rehabbing a calf muscle tear sustained while playing for the Barbarians at Thomond Park and is expected to return next month. Fellow Ireland international Keith Earls is continuing to rehab his hamstring injury but is expected to be out for a number of weeks.
Munster scrum coach Jerry Flannery said: “Earlsy is not going to be available for the foreseeable future. It’ll be another seven or eight weeks anyway with his hamstring. Whether it progresses better as it gets closer, I don’t know.”
Also continuing to rehab injuries are Gerbrandt Grobler (ankle), Conor Oliver (shoulder), Dan Goggin (knee), Dave O’Callaghan (knee), Jaco Taute (knee) and Niall Scannell (thumb).