Munster running out of front row options

MUNSTER’S bid to get their Magners League defence back on the track against Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday night next is not helped by the fact that they will definitely be without Doug Howlett, Marcus Horan and Tony Buckley, all of whom left the field prematurely during last Saturday’s Heineken Cup victory over Treviso.

There is a slight chance that Howlett will be available for the following week’s visit of Ulster to Thomond Park. The New Zealander pulled a hamstring in valiantly getting back to prevent a third Treviso try just before half-time in Saturday’s game and while it looked pretty serious at the time, the current prognosis is that the damage is a lot less than at first feared.

While Howlett has been in excellent form in recent weeks, his loss shouldn’t be too great given that Denis Hurley has turned in some outstanding displays on the wing already this season and was central to one of the side’s best attacks late in the Treviso game. And there are also several other options that coach Tony McGahan could consider for the visit to Murrayfield.