Munster boosted by return of injured quintet and Ireland internationals

Ian Costello and his coaches have welcomed back Ireland internationals Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Peter O’Mahony.

READY FOR WORK: Munster scrum-half Craig Casey. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho

Munster interim head coach Ian Costello is set to have a much stronger hand to choose from for his side's URC trip to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park to face Connacht on Saturday afternoon (kick-off, 2.30pm). 

Costello and his coaches have welcomed back Ireland internationals Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Peter O’Mahony, while Craig Casey, Jean Kleyn, Jack O’Donoghue and Thaakir Abrahams have all returned to full training.

Oli Jager will also return to training this week after missing the loss to Glasgow Warriors last Friday night, but the availability of Niall Scannell and Billy Burns, who are both struggling with shoulder issues, will be determined later in the week.

Meanwhile, the Munster absentees list still features Shane Daly (hamstring), Diarmuid Kilgallen (thigh), Mike Haley (ankle), Dave Kilcoyne (thigh), Liam Coombes (chest), Edwin Edogbo (Achilles) and Roman Salanoa (knee).

Munster face their provincial rivals this weekend before heading to Stade Marcel Deflandre to take on Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle in the Champions Cup on April 5.