Munster and Leinster injury worries mount

Rugby/Celtic League news: Given the current spate of injuries among the provinces, Munster and Leinster, particularly, really ought to get the VHI or BUPA on board in what would be sure to be a synergy deal.

Medical bills, over the last week, have been mounting for both sides.

The Munster coach, Alan Gaffney, has been forced to make seven changes to the side that lost to Ulster last Friday night and which subsequently emerged rather battered. This may become eight if Mike Mullins does not recover from sickness.

Utility back Martin McPhail and prop Martin Cahill (both shoulder), hooker Jerry Flannery (concussion), and second row David Pusey (ankle) are all ruled out of this weekend's match against Gwent Dragons, while centre Jason Jones-Hughes also picked up a knock that he then aggravated enough during training to take him out of the fit and healthy list and on to the doubtful one. That already includes James Blaney, Rob Henderson, Denis Leamy, Jason Holland and Mike Prendergast.

On the positive side, captain Jim Williams returns to the side, having been forced to pull out of the Ulster match just hours before kick-off with a stomach bug, while Dominic Crotty, who started on the bench for that game, resumes at full back with Shaun Payne moving to the wing.

"We have lost three Celtic League games by seven or fewer points - not to mention our Celtic Cup defeat - so it has been tough in that aspect," said Gaffney. "We should have won at least one of those games, but we were not robbed by Ulster last weekend. We had a poor first-half and then we fell apart for 10 minutes while they had only 14 men on the field.

"The Gwent Dragons beat Glasgow comfortably last week so they're in good shape and like every other side in this competition they'll view a win over Munster as a great bonus. But we always knew we would have to use our entire squad in this competition."

On a more positive note, Leinster yesterday offered winger Brendan Burke (23), a full, two-year contract. Burke, who has caught the eye in almost every game this year, comes from Trevor Brennan's old stomping ground, Barnhall.

But Leinster's sorrows have been relentless, and coach Gary Ella will not name a team until all the walking-wounded congregate today for a run out. Even then, he may wait until the last moment to name his side to face in-form Connacht at Donnybrook tomorrow.

For the record, in addition to the 11 players on international duty, Derek Hegarty, Christian Warner, Kieran Lewis, Gordon D'Arcy, Aidan McCullen and John Lyne are definitely injured, while Leo Cullen, Brian O'Riordan, Brian O'Meara and Shane Jennings are doubtful.

The inaugural Celtic Cup semi-finals will be televised live on the weekend of November 14th-15th. TG4 will carry both matches with BBC Northern Ireland showing Ulster's away match in Glasgow.

THE SCHEDULE: Friday, November 14th: Glasgow Rugby v Ulster, Hughenden, 7.30 (BBC NI / TG4). Saturday, November 15th: Connacht v Edinburgh Rugby, Sportsground, 2.00 (TG4).

MUNSTER (v Gwent Dragons): D Crotty; S Payne, M Mullins, C O'Sullivan, M Lawlor; J Staunton, E Reddan; S Kerr, A Long, J Danagher, T Hogan, D Sheehan, S Keogh, D Wallace, J Williams (capt). Replacements: E McGovern, F Roche, E Halvey, C McMahon, F Murphy, C Casey, B Murphy.