European Cup: Kidney waits on injured trio
Munster coach Declan Kidney has announced a virtually full-strength squad for this weekend’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Stade Francais in Lille.
Kidney revealed that doubts remain over three key players - John Kelly, who has a hamstring injury, Dominic Crotty (bruised ribs) and scrum-half Peter Stringer.
Kidney will name his team at the Stade Metropole in Lille on Friday, when the Munster management will have a better idea as to the fitness of their injury concerns.
The coach said: ‘‘Peter Stringer and Dominic Crotty have a 60-40 chance of starting the game and David Wallace’s chances have now increased to 50-50. He was extremely doubtful earlier in the week but he has made an excellent recovery.’’
A decision on the fitness of John Kelly will be made today and, should the winger fail to come through, Kidney announced that Cork Constitution’s Conor Mahoney would join the squad flying out to the south of France.
‘‘I am still concerned about the pace of our players due to the long lay-off and the lack of match practice,’’ said Kidney.
‘‘We were caught a couple of times by the Irish selection last week in Thomond Park, but we have worked on this all week because we are very much aware of the danger this would pose against a team of the calibre of Stade Francais.’’
Munster squad: J Hayes, P Clohessy, M Horan, F Sheahan, J Blaney, M Galwey, J Langford, M O’Driscoll, D O’Callaghan, D O’Cuinneagain, D Wallace, C McMahon, A Foley, T Tierney, P Stringer, R O’Gara, J Staunton, J Holland, M Mullins, J Kelly, J O’Neill, A Horgan, D Crotty.
