Munster blow as O’Leary in hand op

MUNSTER have been dealt a major blow with the news that scrum-half Tomás O’Leary has been ruled out for up to two months with a thumb injury.

O’Leary picked up the injury in last Saturday’s 13-9 Magners League defeat to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium and underwent an operation on Tuesday.

Munster management had previously hoped the injury would prove to be a minor knock, but O’Leary will now miss the Heineken Cup clash with London Irish, as well as the forthcoming clash with Toulon and several Magners League games.

O’Leary will also miss some, if not all, of Ireland’s autumn campaign — Declan Kidney’s side face South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina next month.

O’Leary’s place in the Munster line-up is likely to go to Peter Stringer, with Duncan Williams on the bench.

A Munster statement read: “Tomás O’Leary, who injured his thumb in the game against Leinster, has been ruled out of Munster action for the immediate future.

“O’Leary had an operation on Tuesday and could be out for anything from six to eight weeks.”

Munster have also confirmed that they will not appeal against centre Lifeimi Mafi’s seven-week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Gordon D’Arcy in the clash with Leinster.

Meanwhile, Johne Murphy is preparing to don the famed red shirt for the first time in the Heineken Cup tomorrow, and this week he recalled the impression Munster left on him when he made his tournament debut against Munster at Welford Road in the 2006/07 pool stages.

“What do I remember about it? Running out on my own at Welford Road, and the Fields of Athenry was being sung, that (was) foreboding…I was quite nervous, and to be playing against an Irish province made it a bit more special for me.

“To be seeing for the first time — probably one of the only times — Welford Road more or less half red and half green, that was pretty cool for me and for all the other Irish guys that were there. The result didn’t go our way that day, but it’s certainly something I’ll always remember.”

Murphy has looked right at home since ending his five-year stint at the Tigers with a move to Munster, despite playing in the relatively unfamiliar position of centre for most of the campaign. However, he admits he’s happy enough to let the returning Keith Earls reprise that particular role.

“I played against him a couple of times and he’s pretty tough to mark, and I’m looking forward to being with him rather than against him,” he said.

“Hopefully he can bring a bit of an edge that, when I was playing in the centre, I probably didn’t have.”

Modesty will get you everywhere in Munster, as will dedication to the cause — Murphy described last Saturday’s loss to Leinster as the most disappointing of his career.

“I’d never experienced something like that before in terms of the rivalry. I’d tried to prepare myself for it, but it did hurt, I was very down in the dumps on Sunday.

“But we’re professionals, we have to leave that behind us. It might be a good thing, it focuses the mind — we don’t want to have that feeling again this Sunday.”

Standing in their way this time around are Aviva Premiership pace-setters London Irish. Murphy admits composure will be crucial.

“We need to be a bit more patient in their red zone; we’ve been getting really good opportunities without finishing them off. We need to trust what we’ve been doing.”