Munster boss van Graan must plan without Earls and Cronin

Key Munster players Keith Earls and James Cronin are unlikely to play any rugby for the remainder of 2017.

The duo are certain to miss the two European Cup matches against Leicester Tigers next month and are extremely doubtful for the run of interprovincial games against Leinster on St Stephen’s Day, Ulster on New Year’s Day and Connacht on January 6.

Munster’s new coach Johann van Graan attended the province’s High Performance Centre over the past couple of days and while leaving the brunt of the work for now to assistants Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones, was bitterly disappointed to learn that the hamstring tear suffered by Earls is much more serious than first anticipated.