New Munster boss Rassie Erasmus has found himself in the midst of an injury crisis at fly-half, with only Ian Keatley apparently ready to start the season.

Former Munster hooker Denis Fogarty has become the latest player to have to retire from the game through injury.

Anthony Foley believes Munster have done some good business by landing Irish tighthead John Andress and re-signing former academy lock Darren O’Shea for next season.

When Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald was spotted in UL yesterday speculation arose that a decision on Head coach Anthony Foley’s future was imminent.

Munster’s Australian second-row forward Mark Chisholm faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a concussion in Saturday’s Guinness Pro12 win over the Dragons.

The prospect of missing out on qualification for next season’s European Champions Cup looms larger than ever for Munster after Glasgow Warriors’ win over the Newport Gwent Dragons on Thursday. That result drops Munster to eighth in the Guinness Pro12 table with only the top six assured of Champions Cup action.

Zebre 12 Munster 16: It wasn’t pretty and Anthony Foley admitted as much, but Munster’s head coach believes his side will consider Saturday’s nervy Pro12 victory at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi as ‘as a good win.’

With the pressure valve released a little, our rugby correspondent Simon Lewis teases out the green shoots of Munster’s recovery with head coach Anthony Foley.

MUNSTER SELECTION

Conor Murray has promised Munster will stick to an attacking game-plan he believes is the most enjoyable he has played as they attempt to get their European campaign back on track at Leicester on Sunday.

Anthony Foley has laid it on the line for his players ahead of tomorrow’s Guinness PRO12 clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Munster players were ready and willing to travel to Paris for this weekend’s Rugby Champions Cup fixture despite the terrorist attack that shocked the city and the world last Friday, according to the province’s Australian lock Mark Chisholm.

He came here to replace the irreplaceable and has done a great job for us.

Tonight: Thomond Park, 6pm

Mark Chisholm had many great days in the gold jersey of Australia, but one of his proudest moments came watching the current Wallabies hold their defensive line for 10 minutes with just 13 men in the recent Rugby World Cup victory over Wales.

Munster’s Andrew Conway has endorsed Ian Madigan’s World Cup challenge to follow one great performance with another.

With 16 Glasgow Warriors players tied up with Scotland at the World Cup as against five Munster men with Ireland, there is little doubt that the home side will be at a distinct advantage when the teams meet in a repeat of last year’s Guinness Pro12 final at Thomond Park this evening (6pm).

Ospreys 18 Munster 20: A last-gasp converted try from replacement CJ Stander saw Munster stun the Ospreys and make it two wins from two at the start of the new Guinness Pro 12 campaign.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley will unleash his southern hemisphere imports on the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow, naming Aussie second row Mark Chisholm and New Zealand backs Tyler Bleyendaal and Francis Saili in the side for a crucial Guinness Pro12 clash.

Dave O’Callaghan is only 25, but with a ready supply of youngsters coming through the Munster system he’s already beginning to feel old.

Assistant coach Brian Walsh will be looking for new signing Francis Saili to bring an extra dimension to Munster’s play in tonight’s final pre-season friendly against London Irish at Musgrave Park (7pm).

Mike Prendergast knows France pretty well by now. 

Dave Foley, the genial 6’6”, 18-stone giant from Clonmel, laughs quietly at the suggestion he is now the “senior” second row in the Munster squad.

A look around the UL Bowl yesterday quickly indicated that Munster should be in a much better position regarding player availability this season than was the case for the Guinness Pro 12 final against Glasgow Warriors only ten weeks ago.

New Munster signing Mark Chisholm will arrive in the province today to undergo a medical with supporters hoping this is the start of a beautiful relationship.

Paul O'Connell's move to Toulon may not go ahead after all because of an old shoulder injury.

Surprise Australia call-up Nick Phipps discovered he had been named in the Wallabies party for their spring tour after a night out celebrating the Commonwealth Games silver medal he won as part of his country's Sevens team.

Four members of the Australian Sevens team have been included in a 36-man Wallabies squad for their upcoming tour of Hong Kong and Europe which includes a tie against Munster.

Australia selectors have named 12 uncapped players in an extended 40-man training squad ahead of the upcoming spring tour of Hong Kong and Europe.

Lachie Turner has been named in the Australia XV for Saturday’s clash with New Zealand in Sydney.

Robbie Deans has made three changes to Australia’s squad for their Tri Nations clash with South Africa on Sunday.

Australia have made three changes to their team to take on South Africa in the Tri Nations at Bloemfontein on Saturday with Stephen Moore, Mark Chisholm and Ben McCalman drafted in.

Winger Drew Mitchell is the most notable omission from Australia's squad for the forthcoming Tri-Nations series.

ROBBIE DEANS insists his Wallabies side have the strength in depth to get back to winning ways against Ireland, despite losing another front-liner yesterday.