Easterby is impressed by Munster

SIMON EASTERBY looked like somebody who had just gone the full distance with both Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton after Saturday’s defeat to Munster.

The Scarlets skipper and Ireland flanker left the pitch twice in the first half for treatment to a deep gash over his left eye. The battle hardened Easterby, in his ninth year with the Scarlets, was already carrying another gash a fraction of an inch away in his eyebrow.

Despite the discomfort, he saw plenty of Munster to impress him.

“I was very impressed with Munster, especially as the conditions deteriorated in the second half,” he said.

“They kept the ball particularly well, scored a good try, deserved their victory and are looking in good shape at the moment. It’s difficult to know how the pool will pan out.

“Today, Munster showed they’re the best team in those conditions. Their forward pack was outstanding. I know we won’t be giving any easy victories away. This group will go down to the wire and while we won’t be in the mix, we’ll still have a say in who wins the group and I think that’s important.”

Easterby is a hard man but given the condition of his eye, it would seem foolhardy to expect him to go through a similar war of attrition at Thomond Park on Sunday.

He is a doubtful starter for the return leg but Scarlets coach Phil Davies remains hopeful out-half Stephen Jones, hooker Matthew Rees and centre Dafydd James will be available having missed Saturday’s game through injuries.

Try scorer David Wallace is Munster’s chief concern. He left the field just before the final whistle having taken, as coach Declan Kidney said, “a crack on the arm”.

Otherwise, Munster seem to have a clean bill of health although it will be another month or so before Paul O’Connell and Alan Quinlan are fit to resume.