Rugby: Delport injury a boost for Munster

THERE may be good news for Munster ahead of their Heineken Cup double header against Gloucester later this month.

Their opponents’ South African World Cup full-back Thinus Delport is sweating on the results of a medical report after sustaining a knee injury during the Zurich Premiership side’s 18-17 victory over Harlequins.

Delport was stretchered off in the 66th minute with possible knee ligament damage, just moments after helping to set up Trevor Woodman’s match-winning try.

“Thinus has been advised to let the swelling go down on his knee and he’ll be visiting the specialist this week to ascertain the extent of the injury,” said Gloucester director of rugby Nigel Melville.

“We’ll know more in the next 48 hours.”

England prop Phil Vickery is likely to sit out another round of Premiership action as the rib injury he suffered against Bourgoin earlier this month is almost certain to keep him sidelined for the trip to Leicester.

Andy Hazell (stomach), James Forrester (ankle) and Simon Amor (rib) are also in the treatment room and their fitness will be assessed later this week. Hooker Steve Brotherstone is a long-term casualty with a knee injury.

Meanwhile Connacht coach Michael Bradley will wait on fitness reports on a number of injured players before naming the side to face Alan Gaffney’s side in the Celtic League at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Friday evening (7pm).

Two players, lock Andrew Farley and full-back Mark McHugh, are recovering from operations and it remains to be seen if they are fit to play.

Farley missed the games against Beziers in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup following groin surgery, while McHugh underwent a foot operation.

Prop Warren O’Kelly is also recovering from injury while another prop, Peter Bracken, could make his first appearance for Connacht this season after successfully recovering from cruciate knee surgery.

“We need to wait and see how these players fare over the next couple of days. Also, hooker Bernard Jackman is away training with the Irish squad and we need to get a status report on him,” said Bradley.

“We did very well against Beziers and hope to build on that against Munster.

“It promises to be a great occasion and we are hopeful of a big crowd in Dubarry Park on Friday evening.”

Newcastle fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is still awaiting news on the extent of his neck injury, sustained during Sunday’s 23-19 victory over Northampton.

Wilkinson, who was making his return from a broken facet in his shoulder, left the field early following a tackle on Saints’ wing Jon Clarke.

X-rays later revealed he had suffered muscle damage, but coach Rob Andrew expects Wilkinson to be fit for the Six Nations.

“He led with his head which twisted to one side. It has affected the area he had the fracture in but the x-ray has shown it has not caused any further damage,” Andrew said.

“There is soft-tissue damage from a very heavy tackle. It’s a bit early to say at this stage how long he will be out. We just need to let it settle for a couple of days before we know the extent of the injury.

“I don’t expect him to miss the Six Nations. He may well not play next week but we are talking a few weeks probably rather than anything serious.”

Wilkinson looked frustrated at having to leave the match early and Andrew admitted his star player was sorely disappointed.

“He is pretty fed up, as you would expect from anyone who has missed the last five weeks since the World Cup,” he said.

“He has been desperate to play.”