Munster faces devastating crises before Ospreys clash

Munster Rugby will at least welcome back Jack Crowley, Peter O’Mahony and new captain Tadhg Beirne for their first game of the new URC season after shock defeat in Italy

Munster are sweating on the fitness of Alex Nankivell after confirming they will be without several backline stars for Saturday’s clash with Ospreys in Cork.

The Reds are looking for a big response after their shock loss to Zebre last Saturday, their first defeat to the Italian minnows

That reversal was damaging in other respects as new signing Thaakir Abrahams (leg) and Shane Daly (elbow) are now unavailable for selection in the back three, and both are undergoing scans.

Three other back three options are also absent – Ben O’Connor is with Emerging Ireland in South Africa, Diarmuid Kilgallen remains sidelined and Patrick Campbell is seeing a specialist this week for a shoulder injury.

Calvin Nash returned to action last week after a longer break following his time with Ireland on the summer tour. Mike Haley and Shane McCarthy are available for back three action.

Out-half Billy Burns is also ruled out with a shoulder injury and is likely to miss next week’s Croke Park

Out-half Billy Burns is also ruled out with a shoulder injury and is likely to miss next week’s croke Park clash with Leinster, but Munster will welcome first-choice No.10 Jack Crowley back this week.

Defence coach Denis Leamy doesn’t believe Burns’ injury is serious issue that will keep the signing from Ulster out in the longer term.

“He’s just not fit for this weekend but we’re very hopeful that he’ll be back in the next few weeks,” said Leamy. “I don’t believe there’s a deeper problem, not that I’m aware of anyway.”

Centre Nankivell has also been dealing with a shoulder problem but Leamy is hopeful he will be passed fit to play at Virgin Media Park “We’re just seeing how he’s going and we’ll make a decision later in the week,” said Leamy. “We’re very hopeful that he’ll be fit. He’d be a really nice addition so we’re very hopeful.”

In the pack, academy flanker Ruadhán Quinn failed a HIA on Saturday and is unavailable – as is the more experienced back row Alex Kendellen, who is captaining Emerging Ireland this week.

However Peter O’Mahony and new Reds captain Tadhg Beirne are ready for their first involvements of the new URC campaign.

Also in the pack, Liam Coombes will have a scan on a leg injury and is ruled out Tom Ahern is another who is sidelined. The utility forward, who suffered an ankle injury in the final round of regular URC fixtures against Ulster last season, will be out for several more weeks.

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