Munster coach Alan Gaffney was forced to face the worst possible scenario yesterday when an MRI scan carried out on fullback Christian Cullen showed the former All Black has badly-torn ligaments in his left shoulder.
The injury, which he picked up in the Arms Park at the weekend during Munster's defeat to the Cardiff Blues, is severe and will keep him out of the game for four to six months.
The prognosis comes as a serious blow as Munster face into a European Cup quarter-final match against Biarritz at the end of the month in San Sebastian.
The province will have to think even more carefully about which players they wish to bring into the squad before the cup deadline on Thursday. According to the cup rules, Munster can bring in two new players before the deadline.
With Mossie Lawlor also a long-term injury loss, Munster are now perilously thin on cover for their back line.
"It is very disappointing news," said a Munster official yesterday. "There is no getting around it. Christian will be a loss to the team."
The ubiquitous Shaun Payne moved in as cover for Cullen when he departed injured late in the first half on Saturday night. While Payne has proved to be one of the better Munster signings in recent years, Cullen had added a much-needed edge to the attack. He was lying second to the Dragons' Kevin Morgan on the Celtic League try-scoring table with eight touchdowns from 15 matches this season.
There was better news further north, where Ulster have agreed terms with former Wallaby second row Justin Harrison, thus setting the tone for next year's campaign. The former Australian hard man, who Austin Healey famously derided in his 2001 Lions diary as "Plod", "Plank" and "Ape", will be signed on a three-year contract.
Australia, whose starting line-up in that famous Lions tour included the "Plank", won the Test and the series. "Plod" also stalled the famous motor-mouth Healey when he countered a match-winning Lions set piece at the end of the game.
The lock turns 31 next month, has played more than 80 Super 12 matches for the ACT Brumbies and NSW Waratahs and earned 34 Test caps for Australia, since making the memorable debut against the Lions in 2001.
Managing director and CEO of the Australian Rugby Union, Gary Flowers, who had been in negotiations with the player for several weeks, said Harrison's decision to leave Australian Rugby came as a surprise, especially so early in the season.
"Australian Rugby made Justin a very good offer for a player of his experience and standing in the game, and he was well aware that we were prepared to continue the negotiation process," said Flower. "Justin was given the opportunity to continue his career in Australia, but in the end he has decided to head overseas and play for Ulster. It was his decision and we wish him well."
Clearly hoping for a fruitful end to his career in this hemisphere, Harrison plays what is euphemistically called a no-holds-barred game, a trait that should please the Ravenhill loyal. He also has a reputation as a lineout technician, and, at over two metres tall and 112 kilos, is purpose built for the job of lock.
He joined the Waratahs at the beginning of 2004 and was involved in all 11 matches for the club last season. Prior to that, he was a driving force behind much of the ACT Brumbies' success.
Harrison did not start playing rugby until after he left school, and in 1994 he made the ACT under-21s and then the Australian Universities team. The following year he went on to play in the Australian under-21s team before making his Super 12 debut with the Brumbies in 1997. Harrison then made his international debut in front of 84,000 people against the Lions in the third and final Test of the 2001 series.
Meanwhile, in Dublin it was all quiet on the western front as centre Gordon D'Arcy came through training with the Irish squad. Reports from the Irish camp were that there was no further problem with his hamstring.
