O'Connell in race to be fit for Biarritz clash

TONY McGAHAN has again conceded that Paul O’Connell is in “a race against the clock” to lead Munster in their Heineken Cup semi-final against Biarritz in San Sebastien next Sunday. The Munster and Lions captain hasn’t trained in three weeks due to a groin injury and McGahan will give a clearer picture as to O’Connell’s wellbeing on Wednesday, but given the inspirational lock hasn’t played since the Six Nations, and last played for Munster against Northampton in January, his chances don’t appear promising.

The Munster coach could at least make more optimistic noises concerning his other walking wounded after Saturday’s 15-11 Magners League defeat at home to the Ospreys, while Biarritz suffered a serious blow in Saturday’s 26-19 defeat at home to Clermont when Damien Traille aggravated a left shoulder which had a metal plate inserted in it four years ago. Traille landed three drop goals in their 29-28 quarter-final win over the Ospreys but will miss the semi-final and may need another operation.

McGahan said Munster were “very hopeful” regarding the return from injury of Doug Howlett, Ian Dowling, Nick Williams and Keith Earls. The latter is also suffering from a groin strain post-Six Nations which has limited him to just one appearance for Munster, the quarter-final against Northampton, since that pool game in January, but he “should be okay too”.

“We would like all of them back, to be honest,” admitted McGahan. “We have five or six guys pushing to get back and all of them have played important roles this season. It’s a race against the clock for Paulie, we’re doing everything possible to get him into the frame to play. But more importantly he needs to be in the frame to train because he hasn’t played for a long time. That’s the first obstacle, to train, then it’s a selection matter.”

McGahan is optimistic Munster’s familiar intensity will return in the Estadio Anoeta. “Without a doubt. You’re looking at a Munster side in the semi-final and that’s what we’d be expecting and that’s what we’ll be delivering. There’s nothing bigger than a Heineken Cup semi-final appearance this year.”

Meanwhile, following Connacht’s 58-10 defeat to the Scarlets yesterday, Ulster secured their place in next season’s Heineken Cup by dint of their 37-25 bonus-point win away to Edinburgh, thereby rendering their concluding clash with Connacht at Ravenhill in a fortnight academic. To qualify for next season’s Heineken Cup, Connacht must now win the Amlin Challenge Cup or hope Leinster or Munster win the Heineken Cup.