Four Munster players doubtful for Stade Francais return

Munster have a quartet of doubtful starters for Saturday’s Champions Cup return fixture with Stade Francais.

The struggling Irish province, eliminated from Europe by the French title holders last weekend with two games still to play, were already up against it following three straight pool losses in a run of six defeats in seven starts.

The 27-7 defeat in Paris on Saturday saw them lose Andrew Conway (hip), BJ Botha (knee), and Tommy O’Donnell (concussion) before half-time while Munster revealed last night O’Donnell’s fellow back rower Jack O’Donoghue also suffered a concussion.

Both flankers will spend the week following return to play protocols which they must complete if they are to feature at Thomond Park at the weekend.

Full-back Conway lasted nine minutes before an aerial collision ended his involvement with a hip pointer issue and tighthead prop Botha was off three minutes later with a knee injury.

The former Springbok underwent a scan yesterday with Foley waiting anxiously on the results given his side’s failure to deal with the Stade scrum in Botha’s absence during a torrid second-half.