Munster will have rookie hooker on bench

With Mike Sherry ruled out, Munster will have to name one of two rookie hookers to fill the Heineken Cup squad for Sunday’s clash with Perpignan at Thomond Park.

Coach Rob Penney will make the call today and it rests between inexperienced duo, 23 year-old Duncan Casey or 21 year old Niall Scannell.

Neither has been capped for the senior team so this will be a massive step up for the rookies.

However, Penney insisted in Limerick yesterday both young men would be up to the job: “They have been working hard behind the scenes. They don’t have the experience as such but they are very capable footballers. Duncan has come through the club rugby system and Niall has been involved with the Irish 20s. We have got to trust these guys now because that is where we are at.

“It is obviously very hard for Mike coming off the international programme and getting an injury like that, very frustrating.”

Clearly there is a massive responsibility on the shoulders of Damian Varley who may well be asked to play a full 160 minutes of intense rugby over the coming two weekends.

And, he is confident if either of the youngsters are called off the bench then the senior players would guide them through. But we believe they will do a great job.”

He then pointed out how the competition between Keatley and an even younger JJ Hanrahan has kept things on the boil following the retirement of Ronan O’Gara: “JJ’s had a couple of wonderful performances in the Rabo and then Ian bounced back after an injury break to kick wonderfully so competition is really close. We still haven’t made a decision on the starting 10 but we’d have to say Ian’s got the inside track .

“Keatley has massive shoes to fill as we know, he’s been going well probably without setting the world on fire. It would be nice if he could approach the game injury free and really show what he is capable of.

But credit to both those young men, they understand the situation and they work hard together and that’s why we’re getting a bit more growth because they’re happy to share and happy to challenge each other.”