Penney plans full-back role for Keatley

Munster head coach Rob Penney looks set to ring the changes for Saturday night’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park (8pm), with a run at full-back for Ian Keatley on the cards.

Having reintroduced Ireland backs Keith Earls, Conor Murray and Ronan O’Gara during last Friday’s 20-19 defeat by Ulster, with Earls scoring a memorable try, Penney will welcome back another in wing Simon Zebo.

O’Gara looks set to return to the No 10 jersey, having come off the bench in Belfast, but there could still be a role for Keatley, who was Munster’s starting fly-half for the first three Pro12 games and scored a try, nine penalties, four conversions and two drop goals in the process.

Keatley, who has not missed a kick from the tee since his opening attempt in the first game of the season at Edinburgh, may deputise at full-back following an illness to Denis Hurley and the early departure of Luke O’Dea with an ankle injury at Ravenhill.

Both O’Dea and no 18 James Coughlan, who suffered a groin injury in the first half against Ulster, will learn the extent of their injuries within 48 hours when they see specialists, with Penney suggesting both could be out of action for “a few weeks” while centre Ivan Dineen is on the sick list alongside Hurley with a stomach bug.

Penney hinted Keatley’s potential start at full-back may be with some encouragement from Ireland management when he said: “He’s been tremendous for us, Ian, and I’m sure other people around the country will be keen to see Ian in different positions just to judge his versatility.

Munster captain Doug Howlett may be rested this weekend having been a spectator during training yesterday, with Zebo the possible straight replacement for his first game since an international debut in the first Test against New Zealand at Eden Park on June 9, although Penney said no other internationals would be back in action to face the Dragons.

That means a further week or two of conditioning for forwards Peter O’Mahony and Donnacha Ryan, while Penney said there was still no timetable for the return of former captain Paul O’Connell, who has not played since a knee injury suffered on May 5 and was absent from training yesterday.

“It’s his lower back, just on the back of a couple of little knocks and issues that he’s had over the last couple of years. He’s making progress, but there’s no deadline date for him to return.”

Meanwhile, Connacht have been rocked by the loss of experienced scrum-half Frank Murphy to injury.

The 30-year old, who played for Leicester in their 2007 Heineken Cup final loss to Wasps, has suffered cruciate knee ligament damage which will rule him out of action for six to eight months. The Cork native, who spent three years with Munster before moving to Leicester, will undergo surgery in the coming weeks.