McMillan counts cost of Toulon trip as Casey faces spell on sidelines

FRENCH TEST: Munster's Head Coach Clayton McMillan arrives ahead of the match. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland

If Clayton McMillan’s instincts about the extent of Craig Casey’s shoulder injury, the Munster boss could have to rely on his two least experienced scrum-halves for this Saturday’s must-win Champions Cup pool home tie against Castres.

The Ireland number nine left the field at Stade Felix Mayol seven minutes from full time of a 27-25 defeat at Toulon which leaves Munster needing a Thomond Park victory over their old foes in the fourth and final round of Pool 2 action to be assured of reaching for the knockout stages. The head coach had been forced to draft in travelling reserve Ethan Coughlan for a spot on the bench after his named replacement Paddy Patterson was ruled out, having sustained a head knock during the warm-up.