Anthony Foley faces anxious wait on Munster skipper Peter O’Mahony
O’Mahony, along with fellow international Simon Zebo and up-and-coming young hooker Duncan Casey, are the main injury worries for coach Anthony Foley, but the medical team will be working overtime in an effort to have the trio fit for Saturday.
“We will know more about each of them on Thursday,” said Foley, and in terms of his captain (hip injury) he added: “It’s more about running and making sure that he is comfortable doing that before we engage him any further in scrummaging or wrestling or anything on Thursday to see is he fully fit.
“It’s hard, judging by the character of the fella that we all know. He just wants to play. He is the captain of the side and we all want him to get there but if it is not right, he will not be taking the field.
'Shine On Us!' Great pic from @Munsterrugby training ahead of their huge @PRO12rugby semi-final playoff! @MRSC16 pic.twitter.com/oPERh2QC9b
— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) May 19, 2015
“But we will give him every opportunity to get in for the semi-final because he is a big player, he is one of our internationals. He is the club captain so we will give him every opportunity.”
Zebo, it appears, is much improved in the last week. “Yeah, he is a lot fresher. Obviously the back spasms have calmed down and hopefully, he was moving pretty free today but we just need to finish off his return-to-play protocols which will involve a certain amount of contact on Thursday.”
Conscious that the Ospreys have already beaten his side twice this season, Foley is taking nothing for granted at the weekend. Yet, he believes Munster are in a better place than at any stage in the last few months.
“When you get to this stage of the season, you’d feel that people might start taking short cuts and are getting tired. But we’re doing more, the boys are fresher and doing whatever it takes to get the edge on the opposition. Everything we do needs to have a purpose and relevance because Ospreys are a very good side.
“Our players are young and ambitious. They want to win trophies. We’re a step away from that and in order to take that step, we need to do a job on Saturday. We’re getting there. Our use of ball is pretty good. Our set-piece is up there and competing with the best in the competition. It’s important to look after the ball first. You win it and look after it, we’re doing that. Our backs are looking after it pretty well, they’re running good lines off one another. There’s nothing been given up easily and we’re putting teams under pressure to defend against us.
“And then it’s about managing the game and seeing where best it suits us to play the next phase.
“It’s tough but it’s good competition. It’s about getting fellas into the jersey and having them stay there as long as possible. We have it in a number of positions, fellas fighting tooth or nail to get in there. They see there’s a chance to get in there and stay in there, regardless of name or reputation. If a guys is doing well, all the players feel they can sculpt out a career here themselves.”
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