Team shares Edogbo’s injury frustration

The mood remains positive and though post-Leinster review was honest and pulled no punches there was also an emphasis on the promising elements of Munster’s recent performances.

Munster Forwards Coach Andy Kyriacou.

The depth of feeling for Edwin Edogbo’s potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines was evident from the reaction of team-mates and coaches alike as it was revealed the academy lock is set for surgery on the Achilles tendon injury he sustained against Leinster earlier this week.

The 21-year-old, who has emerged as a second-row regular over the early stages of the URC campaign, will go under the knife next week having broken down during last Tuesday’s St Stephen’s Day derby defeat at Thomond Park. Fellow forward John Hodnett knows exactly what the academy player is going through having suffered the same injury three years ago that ended his season in November 2020.

“It’s a tough injury to get,” the flanker said. “I actually did it myself a few years ago. A couple of the lads in the squad have as well. It’s a long one all right, it’s a tough one on him, he was playing well. It’s a tough one to take, wish him the best.” 

This is Edogbo’s second Achilles injury in as many seasons and forwards coach Andi Kyriacou described another spell out of action as a “huge blow for both” the lock and Munster. He follows fellow locks RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn, Cian Hurley and Fineen Wycherley into the treatment room, though the latter is set to increase his training exposure this week, Munster said, with his availability to be determined ahead of next Monday’s New Year’s Day visit to Connacht.

“A huge blow for both (Munster and the player), I'm not going to lie,” Kyriacou said. “We saw it instantly in the game and all our heads went into our hands, we were absolutely devasted for him.

“He's a kid who's worked incredibly hard at his game and his craft. He's shown huge improvements in the technical side, around the tight stuff in the forward side of the game and his mauling is incredible.

“Some of the stuff he did against Leinster was superb, the way he cleans people out in phase play, the way he puts shots in defensively, he was looking good and we were all excited about where he was going so it's a real shame that he's not able to continue that this season.

“We'll get him right. He's shown huge resilience mentally to bounce back from the last one and we've no doubt that he'll show the same characteristics along this rehab journey he's about to go on again.” 

Kyriacou said there had been no further discussions within the Munster coaching staff on bringing in short-term cover and added: “We've got good lads here at the minute that we're looking to develop and bring through. There's no getting away from it, it's tough when you have a physio room as loaded with talent as ours. We'll drive on, it's what we do.” end