Munster mood lifted by imminent return of O’Donnell and Ryan

Munster may be set to welcome back-rowers Tommy O’Donnell and Donnacha Ryan into the selection pool for Saturday’s make or break Heineken Cup pool clash with Perpignan.

The bad news surrounding scrum-half Conor Murray’s six-week recovery period from medial ligament damage to his right knee suffered in the first half of last Sunday’s home victory over their French Pool 6 rivals has been tempered by O’Donnell’s successful comeback for Munster A in last weekend’s British & Irish Cup defeat at Plymouth Albion.

The Munster Player of the Year for last season had been out of action since late September when he injured a knee against Zebre, but he returned to play in England last Friday night and put in a 32-minute shift off the bench in a 17-7 defeat.