O’Connell’s ‘race against the clock’ as Biarritz battle looms

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan admits captain Paul O’Connell is in “a race against the clock” to be fit for Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final with Biarritz.

O’Connell, along with Keith Earls, Doug Howlett and Tony Buckley, were amongst the marquee names missing for Saturday night’s Magners League defeat to the Ospreys.

Though McGahan is confident the latter three will make the squad for San Sebastian he revealed O’Connell’s long-standing groin problem remains the biggest cause of concern ahead of the trip to San Sebastian.