Versatile Murphy poised to join Hurley in centre partnership
A decision on Smith’s availability was being taken last night as the knee he injured after coming on against Ulster in Limerick last Friday night was put through the province’s final heavy training session.
With new signing Pat Howard going through his return to play protocols following a concussion in the first half of that Guinness Pro12 game on his home debut last weekend, Foley may not want to throw the 22-year-old South African straight into a European debut, in which case Murphy will be asked to fill the breach in a midfield partnership with Denis Hurley.
Either way — facing a Clermont midfield that last time out in a bonus-point win over Sale Sharks featured Wesley Fofana and Jonathan Davies with Aurelien Rougerie on the bench — it is not the ideal time for Munster to be testing a new combination, with Murphy and Hurley having played together just once before, in a Pro12 win over Edinburgh last season.
Murphy last wore the 13 jersey in September’s opening-night home defeat to Edinburgh when he played alongside Smith. Coincidentally that was also Munster’s first loss in a game the Kildare man has started in midfield, although his only previous European experience in that department came at inside centre as a partner to Keith Earls against Toulon in a 45-18 Heineken Cup home pool victory.
Elsewhere, in the Munster backline, Gerhard van den Heever looks set to be rewarded for his sparkling display against Ulster with the retention of the number 14 jersey, edging out Andrew Conway.
In the front row Dave Kilcoyne could see off fit-again James Cronin for the loosehead prop berth.
Munster (possible): F Jones; G van den Heever, A Smith/J Murphy, D Hurley, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, D Casey, BJ Botha; D Foley, P O’Connell; P O’Mahony (capt), T O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
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