O’Leary out for six weeks with broken thumb

Tomas O’Leary will miss, at least the next six weeks of the season after suffering a broken thumb in Munster’s Magners League loss to Leinster.

The Ireland scrum-half underwent an operation on the injured digit in Cork on Tuesday and is now in a cast, ruling him out of Munster’s upcoming Heineken Cup games as well as Ireland’s four-game series of Autumn internationals.

O’Leary finished the game on Saturday night but was missing from training in Limerick on Tuesday, when it is understood he underwent the operation.

O’Leary’s enforced absence will see Peter Stringer enjoy a rare Heineken Cup start for Munster, with Duncan Williams deputising on the bench for the foreseeable future.

Keith Earls is also expected to make a return to Munster’s starting line-up as partner to Sam Tuitupou in the centre.

Earls has yet to play this season after injuring his ankle pre-season when on his way back from the groin injury that ruled him out of Ireland’s summer tour.

Earls last played for Munster in their Heineken Cup semi-final loss to Biarritz on May 2 and his return from injury is a huge fillip to both Munster and Ireland.

Munster coach Tony McGahan could also switch up the back row with James Coughlan - who started Munster’s last Heineken Cup game - a candidate, along with David Wallace, for the back row.

Tony Buckley is also expected to return in place of John Hayes at tight head.

Buckley missed the game last weekend because of a stomach bug but trained fully this week.

Munster will name their team for the game in the Madjeski Stadium at lunchtime tomorrow.