Rival coaches await medical updates ahead of H-Cup

Munster head coach Rob Penney expects to have to wait a further 24 hours before he learns if captain Peter O’Mahony will be fit to face Edinburgh in the province’s Heineken Cup pool opener at Murrayfield on Saturday.

With opposite number at Leinster Matt O’Connor waiting on an assessment of Brian O’Driscoll’s calf strain, the rivals from Saturday night’s inter-provincial derby at Thomond Park have some major concerns about the imminent start of their respective European campaigns.

O’Mahony was taken off at half-time in his side’s 19-15 RaboDirect Pro12 victory over their fierce rivals having suffered an accidental knee to the head during the latter stages of the opening period in Limerick.

The Ireland back row appeared to have been knocked out cold by the blow, which came as he threw himself into a tackle on Leinster hooker Sean Cronin and it was the visitors’ doctor, Professor Arthur Tanner who was first on the scene, his prompt action alerting spectators to the potential seriousness of the incident.

Yet after several minutes of treatment from medics, O’Mahony was able to sit up and he rejoined play for the closing minutes of the first half before being substituted at the interval.

“We have quite good depth so we didn’t compromise him and we took him off,” Penney said of his captain during his post-match press conference.

“There’s no need to put him through anything more given that he shipped an obvious knock. The medical team were happy with where he was at. He’s chirpy and completely normal in the changing rooms.

“The next 48 hours will tell us, hopefully that he’s had no effects.”

Although flanker Tommy O’Donnell is a definite absentee from the opening stages of the Heineken Cup, having suffered a knee injury in last month, the Munster head coach said there had been no other issues arising from Saturday’s game.

O’Connor on the other hand, seems certain to be without short-term signing Lote Tuqiri after the dual Australian international pulled up with hamstring strain late in the second half at Thomond Park.

“He strained that a couple of weeks ago against Glasgow and that looked pretty significant [tonight], so we’ll probably be without him for a couple of weeks,” he said.

Tuqiri had been promoted to the starting 15 as a late replacement at outside centre for O’Driscoll.

“It’s a 50/50 with Brian,” the coach said regarding O’Driscoll’s chances of facing Ospreys. “We’ll have to wait and see whether we risk him.”

Leinster also have a doubt over hooker Richardt Strauss although O’Connor would not specify the reason for his absence from Thomond Park.