Just days before their Heineken Cup campaign kicks off, Munster have been hit with bad news about Wian du Preez and Keith Earls.
Rob Penney’s hopes of getting off to a winning start in the Heineken Cup this weekend have taken a major blow with two injuries hitting key players.
The Kiwi will face into his first European Cup test away in France to Racing Metro on Saturday without the services of Wian du Preez and Keith Earls.
The more worrying of these, from an Irish perspective, is the injury to Earls, who has suffered knee and pectoral injuries in the last year. According to today’s Irish Independent, the Limerick man picked up a groin injury playing in Aviva Stadium last week and he faces a spell on the sidelines, a spell that could wsell include the autumn internationals for Ireland against Argentina and South Africa.
Penney is now likely to start James Downey and Casey Laulala as his centre pairing against Racing.
“Earls (groin) saw a specialist this afternoon and will be out for a number of weeks and Du Preez who injured a knee in the game against Leinster, sees a specialist tomorrow when a time frame on his absence can be better established,” Munster said.
As for Paul O’Connell, Munster aren’t saying either way on is fitness. Penney will have his finger crossed we suspect.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
