Laulala set to move, but Penney more concerned with Munster injuries

Rob Penney has offered a slightly different take on weekend reports centre Casey Laulala would be departing the province at the season’s end and joining up with Grenoble in France‘s Top 14.

“I have no idea what’s happening [with Laulala],” the Munster coach claimed yesterday. “Casey is out of contract at the end of the season and there are multiple clubs talking to him — including ourselves.”

The Irish Examiner understands that while Grenoble are interested in signing the Samoan-born New Zealander, no deal has been agreed. It is believed there are several interested French clubs courting the centre but Penney has more immediate concerns for now. The Kiwi coach, who saw his side earn a 36-8 win over Perpignan at Thomond Park, appears resigned to being without scrum-half Conor Murray for next Saturday’s return meeting with Perpignan at Stade Aime Giral.

The Lions nine started superbly in yesterday’s convincing Heineken Cup win but limped off 18 minutes in after injuring a knee when attempting to contest a ruck.

“It’s massive when you lose a player of Conor’s calibre at this point of the season,” said Penney afterwards. “He’s feeling better than he did when he came off but I suspect he won’t be around next week.”

The six-day turnaround will hardly help the Ireland international in that regard but the Munster coach delivered a more heartening update regarding Ian Keatley who limped off in the second-half with what Penny described as a “corked thigh”.

Felix Jones, who has suffered a litany of injury problems in recent years, was also called ashore but only with what ultimately proved to be nothing more serious than a bout of cramp 18 minutes from the final whistle.