Nature of Jean Kleyn's injury yet to be confirmed

Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly, Liam Coombes and Thaakir Abrahams all came through a full training session on Tuesday. 

SQUAD UPDATE: Jean Kleyn is ruled out of this weekends clash as Munster await confirmation of the nature of his injury. Picture: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Munster look set to bolster their backline for Saturday night’s return to URC action but will have to plan without double World Cup-winning lock Jean Kleyn.

Interim head coach Ian Costello faces his first league fixture since taking charge following the sudden departure of Graham Rowntree on October 29 when the in-form Lions visit Thomond Park and while he received a generally encouraging squad update on Tuesday, Kleyn absence with a neck injury sustained in training with South Africa last week, has required a scan with Munster awaiting an accurate prognosis.

Kleyn had been named to start against Wales last weekend, only to be withdrawn by the Springboks management on the eve of the Cardiff Test.

“We’re very disappointed that he’s out,” Munster defence coach Denis Leamy said. “We’re still waiting how long or what that is. He’s here with us but I believe we’re still trying to find out exactly the nature of the injury but the fact he isn’t available this weekend is obviously disappointing.

“That said it’s great opportunity for other guys, Tom Ahern, Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley, these are good young players who can go and grab the opportunity and make an impact.” 

The good news came from centre Alex Nankivell (hip) and back-three players Shane Daly (leg), Liam Coombes (leg) and Thaakir Abrahams (thigh) all coming through a full training session on Tuesday. Daly, Coombes and Abrahams will be assessed as training continues this week ahead of Friday’s team announcement but defence coach Denis Leamy was optimistic they will all be available for selection.

“They all trained today and to the best of my knowledge all came through the session pretty well,” Leamy said. “That’s really positive. It’s been a challenge with players being out, more players than you would like, but we’ve tried to navigate that as best we can.

“Hopefully the boys are starting to return now, which will strengthen us. Alex is a very strong player who gives us an awful lot on both sides of the ball. Tuckie’s pace is just something we don’t have, he gives us something completely different around that aspect of the game and Shane Daly has been one of our best players over the last couple of seasons.

“So hugely exciting to get them back and with every player that returns, it just bolsters us that little bit more and that’s really important.” 

Costello last week drafted in two new front-rowers on short-term contracts to ease a loosehead prop injury crisis. Dian Bleuler, from the Sharks, and Conor Bartley, the Young Munster front-rower who featured in the Munster A side which lost 22-7 at Leinster A in Dublin last Friday are both available this weekend with Dave Kilcoyne, Jeremy Loughman, Josh Wycherley and Mark Donnelly all sidelined.