What transpired to be one of John Kelly's most eye-catching if brief performances for Munster last week against Leinster at Lansdowne Road has ended in bitter disappointment.
Kelly, who left the field after 47 minutes and was replaced by Paul Devlin, will not be fit to play against Welsh side Llanelli Scarlets in the Celtic Cup final at Lansdowne Road tomorrow.
Some more positive news for Munster has both Connacht's John O'Sullivan and Perpignan's Mick O'Driscoll in discussion with the province. Both the back row and lock are hopeful of making a move in the close season.
The nine stitches under Kelly's eye, a double fracture of his nose and a fractured cheek bone has not only taken the winger out of tomorrow's final but almost certainly out of Ireland's tour to Japan in June. Ireland line out for the first Test match against the host country in Nagai Stadium on June 12th and for a second time seven days later in Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.
Because most of the Irish team will be on tour with the Lions squad in New Zealand at the same time, the tour to Japan was a chance for the younger fringe players to stake a claim and for more experienced players such as Kelly to further their influence in various positions.
Kelly, a permanent fixture in Alan Gaffney's side, has played 17 times for Ireland and scored eight tries. Since his Munster debut in Edinburgh in 1997 he has lined out 115 times in the red shirt.
While Munster have not yet named their starting line-up Kelly is certain to be again replaced by Devlin while a fit again Ronan O'Gara should reclaim his position as Munster out half.
Prop John Hayes, who was also an injury concern after the Leinster game, has trained and should take his place in the front row while Peter Stringer and Shaun Payne, who both took some time out at the beginning of the week, are likely starters.
Full back Payne received a boost to his preparations when he was named the Guinness Draught Can Celtic League Player of the Month for April.
Munster are likely then to have a familiar look, although the back row will again provide the arena for stiff competition. Anthony Foley, who scrambled over the Leinster line for a late winning try last week and subsequently declared he was "lethal from a yard out", should start at number eight, but the other two positions at open and blindside flanker will be contested by four players.
Jim Williams has recovered from injury so his name goes in with Denis Leamy, David Wallace and Anthony Quinlan. Given that it is Williams last match as well as Alan Gaffney's farewell game, it would strike a discordant note if the former Australian international were not included at some stage in the game.
Cork Constitution second row O'Driscoll, who is returning from a two-season run with Perpignan leaves the South of France club to return to home soil. O'Driscoll learned all his rugby coming through at both Munster schools' and under-21 levels.
While he has not officially signed, he has done a medical and had full discussions with Munster management.
O'Sullivan also looks set to join Declan Kidney next season, but again all the paper work has not yet been finalised. A versatile back row player, O'Sullivan has been one of Connacht's most consistent performers since taking up the position in the team on a development contract. The 24-year-old is currently in talks and is hopeful that the issue will be wrapped up soon.
"I have had three great years with Connacht, but I feel I now need a new challenge. I have had discussions with Munster and am hopeful that we will be able to finalise something shortly," he said.
Whatever way it breaks O'Sullivan is not short on options as French club Narbonne, for the third successive year, have again tried to entice him to the south of France. Connacht and Narbonne have played each other six times in the past three years so you might say the sides and players are well acquainted with each other. Indeed, O'Sullivan had decided to move to Begles Bordeaux at the end of the 2002/03 season but the transfer broke down when the French side were relegated for financial irregularities.
"I am very grateful for the opportunities I got in Connacht. There were some very memorable matches and victories and it has been great to have been part of that," said O'Sullivan.
"But I need to develop my own game more. I want to stay in Irish rugby and hope that matters can be tied up with Munster. It will be a big challenge as they have an impressive squad, but at this stage I think that is the sort of challenge I need."
Scotland (v Barbarians, Pittodrie, May 24th): C Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby); S Lamont (Glasgow Rugby), M Di Rollo (Edinburgh Rugby), A Henderson (Glasgow Rugby), R Lamont (Glasgow Rugby); G Ross (Leeds Tykes), M Blair (Edinburgh Rugby). A Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby), S Lawson (Glasgow Rugby), B Douglas (The Borders), S Grimes (Newcastle Falcons), S Murray (Edinburgh Rugby), K Brown (The Borders), J Petrie (Glasgow Rugby) capt; A Hogg (Edinburgh Rugby).
