Munster sweating on Keith Earls for Paris mission

Ireland star Keith Earls is a major concern for Munster ahead of Sunday’s Champions Cup opener against French champions Racing 92 in Paris but Rassie Erasmus is less concerned about a potential shortage of looseheads following James Cronin’s four-week suspension.

Both Earls and loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne suffered concussions during Munster’s 24-15 Guinness PRO12 defeat to arch rivals Leinster at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday but while director of rugby Erasmus said the front rower was “99 per cent” certain of facing Racing this weekend, his outside centre from last Saturday was a different matter.

Kilcoyne, said Erasmus, was “doing well. He is probably 99 per cent going to make it.