RUGBY:JERRY FLANNERY looks to be in a race against time for possible World Cup selection after Munster coach Tony McGahan confirmed yesterday his season is now over.
The 36-times Ireland international underwent an operation on Tuesday to repair a troublesome calf injury which has kept him sidelined since the turn of the year.
Flannery will now face into a three-month recovery period and will play no part in the remainder of Munster’s season.
With Declan Kidney due to name his World Cup squad on August 22nd, time is still on Flannery’s side but there remains little margin for error.
Already this season he has attempted two comebacks (against Toulon and Ulster), both of which ended with the Limerick man breaking down owing to problems with either calf.
Asked whether this latest procedure represented a last-chance saloon for the 32-yea-old hooker, McGahan refused to speculate, but conceded his immediate future now lies in the hands of the medical team.
“It is certainly not for me to comment on whether this is the last opportunity for Jerry to work his way back to fitness,” he said. “That will be a medical decision.
“He has had a number of comebacks, there is no disputing that, but whether this is the last opportunity will be up to the medical people, the medical staff from the IRFU and the Munster staff working together.
“Jerry will be given every opportunity and they will see how it goes. The operation was only yesterday. There is a three-month process before he returns to training and playing.”
The Aussie headman added: “His time with Munster is certainly finished this season, but it will give him an opportunity to prove himself for selection for the World Cup squad.”
McGahan was speaking from the Limerick University sports complex, where Munster continued their preparations ahead of this weekend’s sell-out clash against Leinster.
It’s now almost two years since Munster last beat their arch-rivals (April 4th, 2009 was the last such occasion), with five successive defeats a caustic stain on the landscape for all concerned in the southern province.
Indeed, despite his side’s 12-point cushion at the top of the Magners League table, McGahan gave the impression that Saturday night’s showdown in Limerick represented a near must-win game for the long-term leaders.
“There is no way in the world we can afford to lose this game,” he said when reminded of his side’s healthy position at the summit of the league.
“It’s not in our vocabulary, nor in that of our supporters or organisation.
“We worked so hard during the Six Nations period to make sure that we’re in a strong position leading into this part of the season.
“We worked so hard last weekend against Cardiff away from home.
“We’re gathering some momentum going into some important games coming up, and the be-all-and-end-all for us is Saturday evening.
“It represents a derby and all that that entails, and obviously with the recent defeats that we have accumulated, it carries even more significance.”
A provisional 27-man squad was named yesterday, which will be whittled down to 23 by McGahan and co at lunchtime tomorrow.
John Hayes and Paul Warwick are both welcomed back into the mix having missed out against Cardiff last time out, whilst 21-year-old scrumhalf Conor Murray is retained in the squad following his assured performance in the Welsh capital on Friday last.
Regular scrumhalf Tomás O’Leary is still out of action due to the eye injury sustained whilst on international duty, and is joined on the sidelines by Ian Dowling, Dave Ryan, Barry Murphy and Tom Gleeson
Denis Hurley, meanwhile, is not yet deemed match fit, despite returning to training this week.
One man who will definitely line out for Munster on Saturday night is captain Paul O’Connell.
The 2009 Lions skipper showed no ill-effects after turning in another 80-minute shift against Cardiff, and he insists his fitness levels are improving all the time
“I’m getting there,” said O’Connell after yesterday’s early training session. “I’m just happy to get a run of games.
“The Cardiff game on Saturday was my first time playing three games in a row since Perpignan (December 2009).
“To get that kind of run has been great and it contributes a lot, not so much in terms of match fitness – I’d be fairly close to that now – but in terms of sharpness and what you’re doing at the breakdown and those kinds of things.”
MUNSTER (27-man squad v Leinster): F Jones, D Howlett, P Warwick, S Tuitupou, J Murphy, L Mafi, K Earls, D Cusack, R O’Gara, P Stringer, C Murray, W du Preez, D Varley, M Sherry, J Hayes, M Horan, S Archer, T Buckley, P OConnell, D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll, J Coughlan, N Ronan, D Wallace, P OMahony, D Ryan, D Leamy.
