Earls out as injuries pile up for Munster

Munster’s prospects of victory in Saturday’s Heineken Cup opener against Racing Metro in Paris took a nosedive yesterday when Keith Earls and Wian du Preez were ruled out of the tie.

Earls and du Preez join Niall Ronan, James Coughlan and Donncha O’Callaghan in sick bay, while there is no good news yet concerning the availability of iconic former skipper Paul O’Connell.

A groin injury put paid to Earls’ prospects of playing any top-class rugby in the foreseeable future and he could well be ruled out of Ireland’s November international series. Du Preez sustained a knee injury in the defeat to Leinster last week and it is serious enough for him to have to visit a specialist today to assess the extent of the damage.

With Coughlan already ruled out, Ronan (groin) trained lightly in Cork yesterday but was said to be unlikely to make it back in time for this weekend.

O’Callaghan is having treatment for a hamstring strain while Munster could give no positive news on when O’Connell might make a return. He has been troubled by back spasms.

The only good news of the day was that Felix Jones will return to action at some level over the weekend, possibly when Munster A travel to Plymouth for a British and Irish Cup fixture, although with Earls out, he might well be on the bench in Paris.

Rob Penney had hoped to have selection headaches this weekend, but the latest injury crisis will probably make things simpler for him, particularly in the middle of the pitch, where Casey Laulala will now certainly link up with James Downey in the centre.

Du Preez’s injury could open the door for youngster Dave Kilcoyne to win a first Heineken Cup cap, either from the start or as an impact replacement.

The Munster coach will be keeping his fingers crossed that experienced second row O’Callaghan is fit to play and there are no further setbacks in today’s final big run-out before the squad travels to Paris tomorrow.