O'Connell sidelined for four months

MUNSTER have suffered another hammer blow in advance of the new season with the news that Paul O'Connell will be out of action for four months.

The big second row forward had to undergo corrective surgery to solve a disc problem in his lower back and is likely to miss all of Munster’s four Heineken Cup games before Christmas.

His international career will also be put on hold for the autumn internationals while he begins a prolonged recovery period.