Rugby:Paul O'Connell's availability for Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final against Northampton will hinge on a fitness test tomorrow as the Munster captain struggles to overcome a troublesome groin injury.
O’Connell has yet to train this week and will be put through his paces by the Munster medical team tomorrow morning. Keith Earls, who is suffering from a similar injury, also remains a doubt and will be keen to play a full part in training ahead of the clash at Thomond Park.
With O’Connell by no means a certain starter, Northampton skipper Dylan Hartley has been talking up his side’s chances of becoming just the second club to win at Munster’s Limerick stronghold in the Heineken Cup.
Northampton succumbed to a narrow 12-9 defeat in January, with many considering Munster a touch fortunate to get the win, and Hartley insists the Saints will not be intimidated this weekend.
“We’ve been to Thomond Park and we know what Munster are about,” said the New Zealand-born England hooker. “We’ve seen the ground and it’s not the unknown. We know what to expect. No fear.
“With every small knock-on and every high kick, the crowd gets on their feet and a massive roar goes up. I don’t think the Munster ‘Dragon’ is a myth, it’s something that does happen out there.
“The crowd aren’t just their 16th man, they are their 17th, 18th, 19th men. It’s a place where you want to play. Everyone knows Thomond is a hard place to go, but as a team what better motivation than securing a semi-final spot and taking a record like that away from them?
“Not many teams go there and win but we want to do that. The occasion will bring the best out of every player.”
Northampon’s director of rugby Jim Mallinder must decide who to select at outhalf with England pair Stephen Myler and Shane Geraghty battling it out for the number 10 jersey. Hartley insisted Myler’s superior game management means he should be given the nod.
“The difference between Myler and Geraghty is that Shane has the flair, but personally for me I think Stephen controls the game slightly better,” he said. “Then you have people like Shane who you can bring on and turn the game on its head.”