Archer ruled out of Clermont showdown

Munster prop forward Stephen Archer will miss the province’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Clermont Auvergne this weekend after sustaining a wrist injury in the RaboDirect PRO12 defeat to Dragons last Friday.

The Cork man is looking at an estimated four week recovery period after dislocating a bone in his left wrist.

Rob Penney has several other injury headaches ahead of the trip to France, with doubts lingering over Peter O'Mahony (hip), Donncha O'Callaghan (knee), Keith Earls (hamstring), James Downey (hand), Doug Howlett (shoulder) and Mike Sherry (tonsilitis).

The squad trained in UL today as Penney and Ian Costello prepare for semi-final encounters in both the Heineken Cup and British and Irish Cup with Munster A set to collide with Leinster A in Dooradoyle on Friday as they bid to retain their British and Irish Cup title.