Injury concerns for Munster

Munster have a number of injury concerns ahead of the new Guinness PRO12 season.

The Reds are due to play warm-up games against Zebre and Worcester before their PRO12 campaign kicks-off against Scarlets on September 3, but they are sweating over the availability of several players.

Tyler Bleyendaal (quad), Johnny Holland (hamstring) and Bill Johnston (shoulder) are all struggling with injury to leave Ian Keatley as the only available fly-half heading into the new campaign.

While the players have some time to prove their fitness, new director of rugby Rassie Erasmus admits he may have little choice but to make a signing ahead of the new season.

“We do (have a concern) because Johnny has got a hamstring that’s been there for a while and because Tyler has got that (quad). Keats is there and Billy Johnston played for the U20s and he got a shoulder,” Erasmus is quoted as saying in the Irish Examiner.

“We are thin there but if Johnny and Tyler can be ready for next week. That’s up to three guys and Billy is ready in two months.

“In the next two or three weeks, I will look at it and say, ‘OK it’s a serious thing, the guys are not reacting to the injury’, but I’m confident.”

Elsewhere, centre Francis Saili is continuing his recovery from shoulder surgery, while Peter O'Mahony is in the final stages of his rehabilitation from the knee injury he sustained during Ireland's Rugby World Cup campaign last October.

"The standout names who are in doubt for the first few games are Francis Saili who would be touch and go, Peter would be touch and go, then the international guys that played the Test matches, a few of them will only be in the mix from the third game. Donnacha Ryan has a (sinus) issue which should clear up for the first game," Erasmus added.

Setanta Sports is now eir Sport. We have 6 great channels of live sport including eir Sport 1 & 2 and all 4 BT Sport channels. The eir Sport pack is free to all eir broadband customers. To learn more about setting sport free visit www.eir.ie/sport .