Carbery, Hodnett and O’Mahony back in mix for Munster

BACK IN CONTENTION: Peter O'Mahony during Munster rugby squad training. Pic: Brendan Moran, Sportsfile

Munster’s bid for a top-two finish to the URC regular season has been boosted by a return to training for Joey Carbery, John Hodnett and Peter O’Mahony ahead of this Saturday’s final-round home derby clash with Ulster.

The trio had each been forced to miss Munster’s away win over Edinburgh last time out on May 17, when the defending league champions stretched their winning run in the URC to eight matches and took top spot going into this weekend’s 18th and final round before the end of season play-offs. 

With just three points separating the top four in the standings, a win at Thomond Park over sixth-placed Ulster would see Munster secure top spot and home draws for the following weekend’s knockout quarter-final, with a home semi and final also guaranteed through their seeding. 

Lose to their interprovincial rivals and they risk away fixtures beyond the last eight.

Fly-half Carbery and flanker O’Mahony both last played against Connacht in Round 16, a bonus-point win in Limerick on May 11, while back-rower Hodnett has been missing since the April 20 win at the Bulls. 

All three were passed fit to return to training, Munster said, in a squad update issued on Tuesday while full-back Mike Haley is also on track for a comeback against Ulster as he is expected to complete his return to play protocols following a head injury against Edinburgh.

Midfield concerns have deepened, however, with Alex Nankivell already ruled out with an ankle injury also sustained in Edinburgh, while Munster on Tuesday reported Antoine Frisch had a scan on a leg injury last week with the Toulon-bound centre’s availability to face Ulster set to be determined later this week.

Head coach Graham Rowntree is set to name his team on Friday at noon.