Munster lifted by returns but Craig Casey in race to be fit for Leinster
Craig Casey at Munster squad training in Limerick on Monday. The scrum-half suffered a hamstring injury in training last week. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Munster’s bid for a third straight victory in their new URC campaign this Friday has been boosted by the return to full training of seven senior squad members ahead of the visit of Edinburgh to Cork but doubts remain over Craig Casey’s chances of facing Leinster eight days later.
Tighthead prop Roman Salanoa and lock Edwin Edogbo are among the returning septet as they prepare for their comebacks from serious injury after 29 and 22 months on the sidelines respectively.
The returnees from shorter-term absentees could be Munster Player of the Year and centre Tom Farrell, full-back Mike Haley, wing Andrew Smith, and props Mikey Milne and John Ryan, though the availability of all the returning players for Friday night’s URC round three clash will be determined later this week ahead of Thursday’s team announcement.
Scrum-half Craig Casey sustained a hamstring injury in training last week, having captained Munster for the first time in the round-one bonus-point win at Scarlets on September 27. The Ireland international, who led his country on their summer tour to Georgia and Portugal, missed last Saturday’s narrow home win over Cardiff with head coach Clayton McMillan, speaking post-match, optimistic of his first-choice number nine returning for the first interprovincial derby of the campaign, at Croke Park on October 18.
Senior coach Mike Prendergast on Monday gave an updated assessment and emphasised the opportunities for Casey’s fellow Munster scrum-halves Ethan Coughlan and Paddy Patterson, starting this Friday at Virgin Media Park.
Asked about Casey’s availability for the Croke Park showdown, Prendergast said: “At this stage, I genuinely don't know.
“I know he's having a couple of tests this week, I think there'll be more word on it towards the end of the week, and that's not me kicking a can down the road or trying to sidestep it. As of now, they're literally assessing and they'll make, I suppose, more of a judgement on it over the next few days, so hopefully he will be.
“If he's not, what a brilliant opportunity for the two boys as well.”
Fly-half JJ Hanrahan, who started the round-one win at Scarlets but sustained a concussion in that game and missed the victory over Cardiff, is continuing to follow the return-to-play protocols and his availability will also be determined later in the week, while wing Diarmuid Kilgallen is increasing his training load. Another whose availability is to be determined is hooker Niall Scannell, who sustained a hand laceration in the 23-20 win at Thomond Park.
Definitely missing out this weekend is wing Shane Daly, who failed a HIA post-match after being removed on 10 minutes against Cardiff and will now enter the return-to-play protocols.
