MAGNERS LEAGUE:THERE IS a position up for grabs in the Munster backrow after Denis Leamy underwent a knee operation in Dublin on Monday that rules him out for the next four to six months.
Leamy sustained the injury during the last play of last Sunday’s victory in Perpignan, just before Doug Howlett crossed for the fourth and bonus-point try at the Stade Aime Giral.
It caps a miserable year for Leamy on the injury front. Last season was all but ruined due to a recurring shoulder problem. This curtailed his involvement in that famous midweek defeat to the All Blacks in November 2008 and certainly spoiled his chances of touring with the Lions as he slipped down the Irish pecking order behind Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris. The Cashel man did return to feature in the Grand Slam match in Cardiff last March when he replaced the injured Ferris early in the first-half.
After missing this year’s November Test against South Africa, again due to injury, his form in recent weeks indicated a return to his belligerent and powerful best.
The injury provides an opportunity for Seán O’Brien, or Shane Jennings once his 12-week suspension is served, to provide cover at international level come the Six Nations.
At Munster, Donnacha Ryan, Niall Ronan and Nick Williams are the leading candidates to fill the void. Williams is a specialist number eight and after getting in decent shape the Kiwi forced his way into the Munster side earlier this season. A serious ball carrier, the Leinster defence targeted the Kiwi in the 30-0 defeat at the RDS prompting a return to the established trio of Alan Quinlan, David Wallace and Leamy.
Ronan is a natural openside but if Wallace is switched to number eight he can come in while Ryan’s long-term future is at lock he regularly does a decent job at blindside wing forward although it is unlikely Quinlan will be shifted from the number six slot.
Connacht’s bid to claim both Pool Two and the top qualifier spot in the Amlin Challenge Cup will see them facing chief rivals Montpellier at the Sportsground in Galway on Friday, January 15th, with a 7pm kick-off.
Michael Bradley’s side are now two points clear of Montpellier in Pool Two after completing a double-header over Worcester Warriors in Galway last Friday. That has put them in a position to target the number-one qualification spot and thus avoid a clash against a Heineken Cup side in the last eight. Connacht have 17 points, one behind Pool Three leaders Toulon, who face a tough trip to Saracens in the next round.
London Wasps are on the same mark as Connacht but travel to Paris to take on their main Pool Four rivals Racing next up. Connacht finish up with a trip to Madrid on Saturday, January 23rd, to take on Olympus Rugby with a 3pm kick-off (Irish time).
In a change to this year’s competition, the top-ranked qualifier in the Challenge Cup will host the fifth-placed pool winner. The other three pool winners will take on the sides ranked ninth, 10th and 11th at the end of the Heineken Cup pool stages. The Challenge Cup sides will enjoy home advantage in these games.
