It will be an anxious wait over the next two weeks.
The injuries are beginning to mount up down south and this will be of huge concern to Munster fans.
The latest injury update from Munster Rugby is as follows:
- Tyler Bleyendaal – following return-to-play protocols (concussion)
- Donnacha Ryan – following return-to-play protocols (concussion)
- James Cronin – Awaiting scan on knee injury (knee)
- Conor Murray – Continuing to be monitored by medical team (shoulder)
- CJ Stander – Continuing to be monitored by medical team (ankle)
Continuing their rehabilitation and who look to be out indefinitely, include Mike Sherry (back), Sean McCarthy (knee), Dave Foley (wrist) and Jean Kleyn (neck).
The better news is that Ian Keatley is expected to take a full part in training this week after recovering from a knee problem.
At Munster Rugby’s press conference at the University of Limerick today, Rassie Erasmus provided an update on the status of Murray and Stander.
We must say, it doesn’t sound too good.
“I’m nervous for CJ and Conor because they are important players like any other coach would be at this stage of the season,” Erasmus said.
“My gut feeling is that CJ has a better chance than Conor because of the speed of recovery of the two at this stage. They have a good chance but not this week although they are not ruled out.”
So Erasmus is nervous and they probably are not available this week.
This likely means that if they are to feature against Saracens, they will only have a week of proper preparation under their belts.
Not ideal, but Munster fans would take that if that meant they could play against Mark McCall’s side.
With regards to Murray, it is definitely a concern that the ‘stinger’ injury he suffered against Wales in the Six Nations is still troubling him.
One would wonder if the decision to keep him on the pitch at the beginning of the second half in that game has caused further damage to this particular injury.
