More names added to Munster’s ‘lengthy’ injury list as promising lock sidelined

Up-and-coming Munster second-row Edwin Edogbo was one of the players to pick up an injury during the side’s 9-3 derby loss to Leinster.

Edogbo, who has had Achilles issues in the past, left the field in the second period with the same concern whilst Diarmuid Barron and Dave Kilcoyne could also face time on the sideline.

Growing injury list

Munster head coach Graham Rowntree admits the squad is stretched by injury at the moment but insists moving forward is the most important thing with another inter-pro derby against Connacht looming on New Year’s Day.

“It’s an Achilles injury there. It doesn’t look good,” Rowntree when asked about Edogbo.

“Dave Kilcoyne, shoulder. Diarmuid Barron got a foot injury, Alex Nankivell as well. It’s quite a lengthy list there.

“We are already thin on the deck. We are thin squad wise, availability wise. We will see what we can muster up on Thursday, see what the injury report presents itself because we have got another big game at the Sportsground. We drive on.

“I’m honest with the lads. The lads are an honest group. We will look at that in the cold light of day and see what we can do better.

“Tough conditions, tough ruck, a street fight of a breakdown.”

Praise for the fans

Leinster boss Leo Cullen was delighted with the win despite it not being the kind of game he had hoped. The coach also praised the crowd who stuck it out despite the elements.

“We’re pleased with the win, it wasn’t the free flowing expansive game we were hoping for,” Cullen said.

“We were at the hotel and the weather was nice and we were saying, ‘let’s play it now!’. We could see the storm coming in.

“Fair play to the crowd for braving the elements. They probably get most of the applause on the day!

“We had to dog it out and win ugly to accumulate the points, it’s four very good points on the road. We’re pleased to get them.

“The way the weather was coming in, it was going to be a set-piece battle and we tried to play the game in the right areas.

“It was hard going out there, it was very hard for both teams to construct meaningful play.

“We had a couple of opportunities in the first half, had a drive going pretty well close to the try line but got held up.

“We were worried if six points was going to be enough at half time and it was a proper dogfight for both teams.”

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