Mullins likely to replace Lima as Munster injury jinx strikes again

MIKE MULLINS is expected to be drafted in for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final on Sunday after the province suffered another cruel injury blow behind the scrum yesterday with the enforced withdrawal of new signing Brian Lima.

The Samoan international was forced out after suffering a quadricep muscle injury at the very end of training on Tuesday, a spokesperson said last night.

“Lima pulled up at the end of the morning session at UL and initial medical advice suggested he had suffered a mild strain. However, a scan showed more serious damage and the decision was taken to withdraw him from the squad for France.

“The Samoan will undergo further medical examination later in the week to determine the full extent of the injury,” a Munster spokesperson said yesterday.

If Munster lose on Sunday in San Sebastian, Lima may not play any further part in their season, and could be released to return to his family in Auckland. If the thigh injury keeps him out for up to four weeks, as feared, he would also miss the Heineken Cup semi-final, were Munster to advance.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney, already without the services of Christian Cullen and Ronan O’Gara, tried to remain upbeat despite the loss of the 33-year-old, who has been capped 58 times by Samoa.

“It goes without saying that I’m very disappointed. He is a vastly experienced and skilful player who would have complemented our squad travelling for what was always going to be a very difficult game. In circumstances like this you have to feel for a player who travelled halfway across the world to play with us.

“I know he was looking forward to the challenge.

“So it’s really tough on him. Tough on everyone, but that’s the environment we operate in.

“This sort of thing is part and parcel of the job we work at. We have just got to move on quickly and deal with this as we would any setback.”