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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Munster optimistic Jack Crowley will be fit for Toulouse clash as RG Snyman returns to training

Munster are confident that Jack Crowley will be fit for Sunday's crunch Champions Cup final pool game at Toulouse although he won't train until Friday at the earliest.

Crowley suffered an ankle injury in last Saturday's narrow victory over Northampton Saints.

But backs coach Mike Prendergast provided a positive update on the 23-year-old this afternoon, and that is also good news for Ireland boss Andy Farrell ahead of his Six Nations squad selection tomorrow.

READ MORE: Nothing's changed, insists Ross Byrne, as he keeps his focus off Six Nations selection for Ireland

"Yeah, he took a bit of a knock there obviously and managed to finish out the game, he kicked the three points at a really important time for us," said Prendergast.

"So he showed a lot as a character.

"Within that, we've managed him since then during the week, he didn't train over the last two days and there's a day off tomorrow, so he has an extra day to get right and we'll assess it and see how he is on Friday.

"But we'd be confident enough that he could take his place within the squad at the weekend."

Prendergast also praised Ben Healy for making Scotland's Six Nations squad, ahead of move away from Munster to Edinburgh in the summer.

"Delighted for him, he's a great player," said Prendergast.

"In terms of the season for him, I'm sure he'd wish to have played more, but the good pro he is, you could see there were blocks of games when he wasn't involved and hasn't played and the next thing he stepped up for the Ulster game and had a huge impact at the end of that game.

"And then obviously in really tough conditions against the Lions, managed the game incredibly well.

"Personally I'm delighted for him and he's delighted himself. Look, it's great exposure to get over (to Scotland) and get amongst it, obviously he will be playing with Edinburgh next year and he'll take learnings from going over next week and it's good all round for him."

However Prendergast admits Crowley's selection as one of four uncapped players by Scottish boss Gregor Townsend could leave the Reds short as, with Crowley and Joey Carbery expected to make Farrell's Ireland squad, Munster will be down three no 10s.

"Potentially, yeah," he said. "We’ve spoken about it.

"If we lose three boys we obviously have Tony (Butler) in our academy, who’s been exposed to our team this year and last year, and you’ve Rory Scannell as well that can play at ‘10’.

“So, fortunately enough we have the two boys if the three lads are in the (Six Nations) squads, but it is something that we have been looking at and planning for over the last couple of weeks.”

Ireland stalwarts Conor Murray and Keith Earls were left out of Munster's matchday squad last week and Prendergast says they have produced a "real professional response."

He elaborated: "They carried themselves so well in terms of their input on the pitch, but also off the pitch with team meetings.

"They're two pros who have been around the game for a long time.

"They were disappointed last week, last week is a different week to this week and they're back into the mix in terms of our selection discussions.

"We'll sit down over the next few days and see where we go from there. It wasn't easy for them, to be honest, but two good pros like them have been top notch for us."

Further good news for Munster is that RG Snyman participated in elements of training at Thomond Park today.

"Incredibly good," acknowledged Prendergast, given the South African's horrendous run with injury.

"I'm delighted for him as well, he's a top fella, a top player and great to see him out there today touching a ball again.

"Exciting for him first of all, exciting for him as a coaching staff, and exciting for the whole club.

"There will be no rush, in terms of exact dates we don't know but just to see him on the pitch at Thomond Park is a huge boost for everyone - but most importantly for himself."

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