Tomás O’Leary’s participation in the remainder of the season and the Lions tour to South Africa looks in serious doubt this evening after the Munster scrumhalf suffered a suspected broken ankle. O’Leary was stretchered from the field during the Magners League game against Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park after buckling badly following an innocuous collision with an opponent and team-mate David Wallace.
He has been taken to hospital and Setanta Sports have reported the Munster medical team suspects the injury is a broken ankle.
If the worst is confirmed, it will be a devastating for O’Leary, who has risen to prominence in the last year, by commanding a starting role in the Grand Slam-winning Irish team and playing a pivotal part in Munster’s European Cup triumph last season.
The 25-year-old, who was almost sure to start in the Heineken Cup semi-final against Leinster in Croke Park next Saturday, was named alongside England’s Harry Ellis and Welshman Mike Phillips by McGeechan on Tuesday. The Scot will now need to assess his options for a replacement.
Scotland’s Mike Blair was deemed by some to have been unlucky to miss out in the first place and would appear the favourite to come in, but O’Leary’s replacement tonight, Peter Stringer, may also be in with a shout.
The Lions squad will begin a 10-game campaign against a Highveld XV at Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on May 30th.
