Hopes rise for Hanrahan as Penney ponders changes in back row

Munster are holding out hope that fly-half JJ Hanrahan will make it onto the plane for Marseille today as the Irish province head into Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final with Toulon.

Hanrahan was initially thought to have no hope of being passed fit for the Stade Vélodrome showdown with the defending champions, having suffered a groin injury during the defeat by Glasgow on April 14. Yet, having made what head coach Rob Penney called “miraculous progress” in his recovery process, the prospects of scrum-half Conor Murray having to take over back-up place-kicking duties to starting fly-half Ian Keatley appear to be reducing by the day.

While Murray has continued to practise his goal-kicking, Hanrahan is understood to have resumed straight-line running and light kicking and Penney will leave it as late as possible before making a final decision on the Kerryman’s prospects of taking his place on the bench.