Butler suffers injury blow
Butler, who had stood in as blindside flanker at Murrayfield with captain Peter O’Mahony rested, was substituted after 55 minutes in the Pool 6 opening game on Saturday.
Head coach Rob Penney did not include the Tipperary man in his post-match injury report following the 29-23 defeat but an update issued last evening revealed the 22-year-old, who was making his 40th appearance for Munster on Saturday, had suffered a fracture in his right thumb and had undergone surgery in Limerick yesterday.
Of more pressing concern ahead of Munster’s round two European date with Gloucester at Thomond Park next Saturday is Lions wing Simon Zebo, who pulled up in the 73rd minute and needed to be helped from the field with an injury to his left ankle.
Zebo will have his ankle scanned as soon as possible to identify the full extent of his injury, Munster said, while No.8 James Coughlan is another doubt for the weekend, having taken a knock to his left forearm. An x-ray conducted yesterday cleared Coughlan of any breaks but he will continue to be monitored by Munster’s medical staff throughout the week.
