With Jean Kleyn sidelined until the new year due to an eye injury, the Reds are hoping to have Peter O’Mahony available for their trip to Exeter the following week.
With the exception of Christmas and the match against Leinster on St Stephen’s Day, Jean Kleyn will not play for Munster in the Champions Cup.
The Reds will be without both of their World Cup-winning locks from South Africa for their opening European match at Thomond Park against Bayonne and next week’s trip to Exeter Chiefs, before their old rivals Leinster visit for the annual post-Christmas URC clash, due to Kleyn’s eye injury. RG Snyman has already been sidelined until the spring due to chest and shoulder injuries.
Due to a shoulder injury, Munster manager Graham Rowntree was already without Peter O’Mahony for this weekend. However, it is hoped that the Ireland legend, who gave up the Munster captaincy last week, will be available for the Exeter match.
On the list of casualties are still Joey Carbery, Mike Haley, Roman Salanoa, Niall Scannell, and Cian Hurley.
Kleyn encountered the problem in his first game back following his successful switch to the Springboks ahead of France 2023, the team’s loss to Leinster at Aviva Stadium.
Although he saw a specialist last week and will see one more before Christmas, Rowntree and the province will undoubtedly suffer from Kleyn’s physicality and leadership.
Liam Coombes (shoulder) and Jack Daly (ankle), who both needed surgery last week, will also be out of commission for a while, according to Rowntree’s plans.
After bouncing back from ankle and knee issues, respectively, Munster are hoping that Simon Zebo and Jack O’Donoghue can play on Saturday. Pa Campbell, meanwhile, has returned to training following an ankle injury.
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