Munster wait on Hayes ahead of crunch Clermont clash

IT WILL be today at the earliest before Munster know whether John Hayes will be fit for Sunday’s Heineken Cup game against Clermont Auvergne at Thomond Park.

The tight head prop had to leave the field just before half time at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday because of a neck injury combined with a bloody nose. The Munster management felt it would have been unwise to return him to the fray and brought in Tony Buckley who acquitted himself admirably. He is the likely replacement against Clermont should Hayes fail to make it.

“We will give John the 48 hours and assess how he is then,” Kidney explained. “His neck was a bit sore and it wouldn’t have been right for him to go back.”