Rob Penney hopeful strong Munster squad will face Toulon

Except for long-term casualties, such as Peter O'Mahony and Mike Sherry, Rob Penney hopes to draw from a relatively strong squad for Sunday's daunting Heineken Cup semi-final 'away' to Toulon in Marseille.

The Munster coach is even clinging to the outside chance that JJ Hanrahan may be fit to take a place on the bench after a "miraculous" recovery from a groin tear, and also hopes Donnacha Ryan will have recovered from his recurring knee problem.

Furthermore, he confirmed that Casey Laulala (fractured  bone in his hand) and James Cronin (ankle strain) were also back in the frame after minor injuries.

“I think we’re in really good shape,” ventured Penney after Munster’s training session in Musgrave Park on Tuesday. “We came out of the game in Galway the other day in really good shape, not too banged up and no major injury concerns.

“A couple of guys, as I think I mentioned at the time, we wanted to give some freshening up time. We’ve done that. BJ (Botha) had a bit of an illness last week and that’s why he didn’t get any game time. Now he’s back to 100 per cent.”

“So the guys of note are probably JJ (Hanrahan). He’s not out of the reckoning. He’s had, I suppose, a miraculous turnaround. He is doing some running. It’ll be a big ask to get him anywhere near Sunday but it possible could happen.

“Donnacha Ryan, he trained partially today. It’s very much dependent upon how he comes through this evening and tomorrow, as to whether he’ll be a possible option, but he’s not out of the reckoning either.

“Casey (Laulala) is fine. James Cronin has come back from his ankle strain, did his first little bit of scrummaging on Friday and did his first full set today, and he looks like he’s ready to go.”