Rugby: Munster have injury headaches

Heineken Cup semi-finalists Munster suffered a double injury scare tonight following a bruising 6-6 draw with Irish rivals Leinster in Cork.

Declan Kidney’s side already appear to have lost burns victim Peter Clohessy for the trip to Beziers in southern France next weekend to face Castres.

But fly-half and goalkicker Ronan O’Gara left the Musgrave Park pitch tonight with a suspected finger injury and former Australia back row Jim Williams lasted just 26 minutes of the encounter before suffering a calf injury.

It could have been much worse for the home side when captain and second row Mick Galwey was forced off for treatment to his mouth following a high tackle from Leinster’s Nathan Spooner, who received a yellow card for the challenge just before half-time.

Luckily for Munster, Galwey returned for the second half.

Munster led the Guinness Interprovincial Championship match 3-0 at half-time courtesy of an O’Gara penalty.

Two kicks just before the hour mark from Spooner edged the visitors in front before centre Jason Holland kicked a penalty to level the scores with eight minutes left.