O’Mahony rated 50/50 for Munster’s crunch Champions Cup clash with Exeter Chiefs

Munster head coach Johann van Graan rates Peter O’Mahony’s chances of being fit for the crucial Champions Cup game with Exeter Chiefs this Saturday as ’50/50 at best’.

Van Graan gave an injury update on O’Mahony at Munster’s High Performance Centre this Monday afternoon and said that his captain went for scan to determine the extent of the injury this morning. He added that O’Mahony was in ‘a lot of pain’ as a result of the injury.

O’Mahony left the 41-15 victory over Gloucester last Friday early in the second half due to a suspected “popped rib” and was replaced by Billy Holland as Munster ran in five tries against Johan Ackermann’s men.

Van Graan also gave an update on the rest of Munster’s injured players with Brian Scott, James Cronin, Jack O’Donoghue, Dave O’Callaghan and JJ Hanrahan all progressing their rehabilitation with the province’s medical staff.

Elsewhere, 12 of the senior Munster squad were involved in an Interpro ‘A’ victory over Leinster ‘A’ at Thomond Park on Friday afternoon.

Alex McHenry, Neil Cronin, Calvin Nash and Eoin O’Mahony crossed for tries in the four point win. Munster led 14-3 at the break thanks to outstanding individual tries from McHenry and Cronin.

Nash added their third try early in the second half but Leinster fought back to leave just five points between the sides as the game entered its final stages. O’Connor’s try put pay to any comeback hopes.

Alex Wootton, Nash, Ronan O’Mahony, Bill Johnston, Cronin, Liam O’Connor, Darren O’Shea, Kevin O’Byrne, Conor Oliver, Mike Sherry and Ian Keatley all played some part in the win.

Academy players Ben Healy and Diarmuid Barron were in action as Garryowen earned a 14-12 win over Lansdowne in the Bateman Cup semi final in Dooradoyle. They will play City of Armagh in the final.