Munster prop crisis easing ahead of Castres clash
COMEBACK: Munster prop Oli Jager during squad training last week. Picture: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Munster’s prop forward injury crisis looks to be easing ahead of this Friday’s trip to Castres with Ollie Jager and Dave Kilcoyne set to make their comebacks in the Champions Cup round two pool clash.
The Reds have been without six props for much of this season and have brought in South African Dian Bleuler and Young Munster’s Conor Bartley as short-term signings with looseheads Kilcoyne, Jeremy Loughman, Josh Wycherley and Mark Donnelly all sidelined.
Tighthead Jager has not played since sustaining a neck injury in the round-three URC home win over Zebre and with Roman Salanoa a long-term knee injury victim, Stephen Archer has delayed his retirement until the end of this season having last week extended the short-term contract he signed in the summer.
Bleuler started the 33-7 win over Stade Francais on Saturday, backed up by academy prop Kieran Ryan while John Ryan started at tighthead with Munster’s most-capped player and fellow 36-year-old Archer coming off the bench for his 290th appearance.
Jager returned to full training last week while Kilcoyne is set for his return after almost 12 months on the sidelines since requiring shoulder surgery last Christmas.
An ankle injury in pre-season has delayed Kilcoyne’s comeback but interim head coach Ian Costello on Saturday issued an upbeat update on the two Irish international.
“We expect Ollie Jager and Dave Kilcoyne to come back into the mix,” Costello said. “Dave was travelling reserve so he hasn’t played in a while. Dian Bleuler is doing all right, Kieran Ryan is doing all right so it gave me some decisions to make, which is fantastic.”
Try scorer Shane Daly was removed on 77 minutes for a Head Injury Assessment, which the full-back passed while scrum-half Conor Murray missed out against Stade after sustaining “a knock” and Costello added: “Conor would be touch and go. It’s nothing serious but with the short turnaround… hopefully he’ll be back but we won’t be certain until probably Tuesday.” With a six-day turnaround to Castres, Costello hinted at squad rotation.
“We're taking two days off. It's important we're fresh. It's been a big focus of the group that we will train fast and make sure we feel fresh and prepared.
“The lads deserve to work really hard and we come in and have a short week. So just sharpens the focus.
“We will freshen up the squad. The medics have done such a good job and the S&C (strength and conditioning) staff that we have more bodies back on the pitch.
“The squad is healthier and more competitive, so we can make a few changes to bring that extra bit of hunger and bounce going to cast in a few days’ time.” end
