Craig Casey could be fit to face Castres in Munster's must-win Champions Cup clash

NOT OUT FOR TOULON: Munster's Craig Casey injured his shoulder during their loss to Toulon but he shouldn't be out for too long. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Craig Casey has a chance of facing Castres in Munster’s must-win Champions Cup pool game at Thomond Park on Saturday after fears of a serious shoulder injury were dispelled on Tuesday.

The Ireland scrum-half left the pitch in Toulon on Sunday with his arm supported in a makeshift sling with head coach Clayton McMillan suggesting it was a “serious” looking injury in his comments following the narrow 27-25 defeat at Stade Felix Mayol.

A decision on Casey’s availability will be made by the Munster medics later in the week but the latest injury update suggests Ireland’s back-up number nine to Jamison Gibson-Park is in no danger of missing selection for the Six Nations squad set to be announced by head coach Andy Farrell on Wednesday week ahead of a pre-championship training squad in Portugal at the end of the month.

Starting hooker Diarmuid Barron was another casualty in France after being forced off with a knee injury but he too is being assessed over the training week before a his availability for selection is determined. 

The same applies to lock/flanker Tom Ahern, forced out of last Sunday’s tie with a neck injury but being assessed as the week progresses.

Frontline second row Jean Kleyn and tighthead prop Oli Jager are both available for selection, though. South African Kleyn missed the trip to Toulon with a calf issue while Jager has been absent since October 10 when he sustained a concussion against Edinburgh.

Jager was a non-playing reserve at Stade Mayol and could have played if necessary but the former Crusader was being targeted for an extra week’s contact training ahead of a potential comeback against Castres this Saturday.

Munster did receive some bad news as the fallout from the Pool 2 defeat at Toulon became clear with try-scoring wing Calvin Nash and another scrum-half, Paddy Patterson, both ruled out of the pool finale against the French Top 14 side.

Nash picked up a shoulder/head problem at the Mayol while Patterson received a head knock in the pre-game warm-up with his place on the bench going to Ethan Coughlan, who now appears set for selection at least among the replacements and a possible first European start for the 23-year-old should Casey not pass fit.

Academy scrum-half Jake O’Riordan, 21, could be also be primed for a Champions Cup debut as a replacement in that scenario having looked assured in his first two senior appearances, both this season, against Connacht and Argentina XV.