Munster fingers crossed for O’Connell and Earls

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan will announce his squad for Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Northampton Saints today, with hopes that Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls will be available for selection.

The two Lions missed Friday night’s Magners League defeat to Leinster due to groin strains, and team management are keeping their fingers crossed that the duo will be passed fit.

Munster reassembled in Limerick yesterday after the weekend off and the match day squad will be announced after another session this morning.

Munster manager Shaun Payne issued a cautionary clean bill of health. “There are plenty of bumps and bruises but we think everyone will be available for selection. We need to see how they come through the sessions.”

Meanwhile, Ospreys and Wales hooker Richard Hibbard may miss the rest of the season with a recurrence of a knee injury. The Neath man, 26, went off in the 23rd minute of the Ospreys’ 27-19 derby win over the Scarlets on Friday.

“He is a tough cookie so it’s quite serious, early indications aren’t great,” said Ospreys coach Sean Holley.

Hibbard, who won four Wales caps in 2007, is now a major doubt for Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Biarritz in San Sebastian.

Huw Bennett replaced him against the Scarlets and will be favourite to start against the Basques.

As well as their Heineken Cup quarter-final, the Ospreys are in a battle to make the Magners League play-offs, facing trips to Ulster, Leinster and Munster before a Liberty Stadium Welsh derby against the Dragons. The Swansea-based side have Ross Davies, Duncan Jones, Tom Isaacs, Lyndon Bateman, Tom Smith, Barry Davies and Scott Baldwin on the casualty list.