Munster still waiting on O'Mahony green light ahead of Leinster Christmas cracker 

FITNESS RACE: Peter O'Mahony during Munster rugby squad training at University of Limerick in Limerick. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Munster are still waiting for the green light to select Peter O’Mahony and several other players on their way back from injury ahead of next week’s St Stephen’s night clash with Leinster.

Former Munster captain O’Mahony had been expected back last weekend from a shoulder injury he sustained on his first appearance of the season on November 18 following his return from World Cup duty with Ireland. 

Yet the Test centurion missed the Champions Cup trip to Exeter Chiefs last Sunday and Tuesday’s post-match squad update reported the 34-year-old flanker was “continuing to rehab his shoulder injury”.

Nor was there positive news on another players currently on the Munster casualty list as Graham Rowntree’s squad returned to training after a difficult two weeks in the Champions Cup pool campaign which saw the URC champions draw at home to Bayonne and then lost 32-24 at Sandy Park.

Jack O’Donoghue, who started at No.8 against the Chiefs, left the field with a hip injury in the second half and Munster said the back-rower’s availability for the Thomond Park derby next Tuesday will be determined later in the week ahead of Friday’s team announcement.

The same applies to fellow back-rower Jack O’Sullivan, who is completing return-to-play protocols following a knock playing for UCC the weekend before last and academy lock Edwin Edogbo who having featured in all seven of Munster’s URC games this season has missed the last two outings in the Champions Cup with a neck injury. 

Edogbo is among those who will be monitored in training this week.

Should Edogbo miss the Leinster derby, Munster will remain poorly resourced in the second row with interim captain Tadhg Beirne holding the fort for the last fortnight. 

World Cup-winning South Africa duo Jean Kleyn and RG Snyman remain on the long-term rehabilitation list with eye and chest/shoulder injuries respectively while Fineen Wycherley, who partnered Beirne against Bayonne, is still sidelined with a shoulder issue. 

Regular No.8 Gavin Coombes was sent into the second row at Exeter last Sunday with fellow lock Tom Ahern currently covering impressively for the injured O’Mahony at blindside flanker.

Kleyn, injured in the defeat at Leinster on November 25 is due back in the New Year while Snyman, who required surgery following the Springboks’ World Cup final victory over New Zealand on October 31, has been ruled out until March in his final season with the province.

Also continuing to rehab are back-rowers Jack Daly (ankle) and Cian Hurley (ankle/achilles), hooker Niall Scannell (groin), tighthead prop Roman Salanoa (knee), fly-half Joey Carbery (wrist) and outside backs Liam Coombes (shoulder) and Mike Haley (hip).