A RETURN to action for Paul O’Connell is still in doubt this week, as Munster head coach Rob Penney was unable to confirm a potential playing date for the former Lions Captain.“Paul will be ready when he is ready. It is that same line coming out. He is making slow progress.
We haven’t even thought about Saracens yet, but miracles can happen. It is an unpredictable back injury. It could just linger on or be a nuisance too. It is frustrating for everybody,” added Penney.
O’Connell has only played twice for Munster this season, against Racing Metro and Edinburgh. Having missed out on the summer tour to New Zealand and the Autumn Internationals, O’Connell’s future with Munster for this season is now a real worry.
Penney was quick to sing the praises this week also, of those charged with carrying the flag in O’Connell’s absence, ahead of the RaboDirect Pro 12 clash with Glasgow this Saturday 1 night (7.45pm) at Thomond Park.
“I think it was exciting that Donnacha Ryan had such a dominant performance in that last Test. I thought Peter O’Mahony really came on and had a big influence on the tough, robust aspects of that game. And out the back we were really happy with Conor Murray and Keith Earls playing so well,” commented Penney.
The New Zealander was singing the praises too of his new look full back, Simon Zebo.
“When a guy like that gets an opportunity and comes through as well as he has it is wonderful for everyone involved. He has created another positional option for us”
“Every time they (Munster players) get put against world class opposition like that it is an opportunity for some of the younger blokes to grow,” continued Munster’s top coach.
In off the field news, Niall Ronan was found not to have sustained serious injury in the incident on Sunday 25 night in the game against Scarlets that saw him stretchered off.
He returned to his Limerick home and his condition will be monitored on a daily basis with an indication of when he’ll be available for a return being made sometime next week.
