MAGNERS LEAGUE MUNSTER TRAINING:TONY McGAHAN will be forced to make do without the services of 21 senior players for tomorrow's clash against Ulster as Munster resources are stretched to the absolute limit.
With nine players enlisted for national duty, two suspended and a further 10 unavailable through injury, McGahan is down to just 16 full-time professionals for the trip to Belfast.
Team manager Shaun Payne confirmed that six development players and one academy member will be added to the panel, but with illness also doing the rounds he delayed naming a squad as selection is yet to be finalised.
“The numbers aren’t good for us,” admitted Payne yesterday. “The resources of our squad will be stretched to the absolute limits. We’ll be dipping a bit lower down the ranks but it is a challenging week considering how many players are being kept back by national management, plus our current injury scenario.
“In previous seasons, this wasn’t necessarily a fixture window and the national squad had the week to do whatever they wanted.
“But now all of a sudden there is pressure in terms of selection. We can’t even train with our full squad because most of the guys are away or injured.
“There is a lot of extra pressure in terms of the four new fixtures. But that’s what we’re here to do; we’re here to play rugby. You accept it. We all realise there are books to balance.”
McGahan will at least be able to call upon John Hayes, Johne Murphy and Peter Stringer, who were all released by Declan Kidney on Tuesday night.
If he plays, Stringer will become just the third Munster player to make 200 competitive appearances for his province after Anthony Foley and Alan Quinlan.
Ironically, the 91-times capped Ireland scrumhalf made his debut against Ulster 12 years ago, and also reached the 100-mark against the same opposition in December 2005.
“It’s a very, very good achievement,” said Payne. “Strings has always been a little fella, but he’s also been very resilient, very determined in training.
“He’s kept his chin up during what must have been a tough time when it comes to selection.
“He’s played very well over the last couple of weeks, and put himself right back into contention again on a national level.”
Barry Murphy is also available for selection and could make his first appearance in red for over a year.
Murphy – who scored against the All Blacks when they visited Thomond Park two seasons ago – has barely featured over the past 18 months following a continuous string of injuries.
However, the 27-year old centre scored a try in his comeback for UL Bohemians against Lansdowne in the All-Ireland League last weekend, and stands poised to play a part.
“We’ve had to see what the best tactic for Barry would be,” said Payne, who seemed happy enough that Murphy was ready to go.
“There is a little bit of extra pressure on our resources at the minute, and all our decisions are tainted by that.
“I know Barry was happy enough with the 40 minutes he got with his club. He got a try and he got to test the hamstring over a good 50 of 60 metres, so if it was going to go it was going to go at that stage.”
Meanwhile, the situation regarding injured duo Keith Earls and Jerry Flannery is less clear.
Earls was pulled from the Ireland camp during the week due to ongoing problems with his ankle, and will wait until next week to be further assessed.
Flannery, meanwhile, is back in rehab following consultations with specialists in England last week, but no date has been set for his return.
“His injuries seem to be related to a neural problem, whether it’s a trapped nerve or whatever, you can’t tell; hence we can’t put a time period on it,” said Payne.
“We have a hope that it will be ready shortly, but it has reoccurred three or four times now so we’re taking it week by week to see how it reacts.”
The best news of the day probably came in the shape of fit-again Paul O’Connell, who suffered no apparent complications as he completed his own training drills in the Limerick rain.
