Munster coach Declan Kidney has been handed a welcome boost with the news scrum-half Peter Stringer should be fit for the European Cup semi-final clash with Stade Francais in Lille on April 21.
The Ireland, Munster and Shannon number nine was very doubtful for the game after damaging his ankle while playing at club level last Wednesday. There were fears he had broken a bone or torn ligaments having been stretchered off in injury time against Blackrock at Stradbrook Road. However, tests and scans revealed the injury was not as bad as first feared, and now he will almost certainly be fit to play against the French outfit.
Munster will prepare for the last-four tie with a game against a Rest of Ireland side at Thomond Park on Friday night. "He should be fine for the semi-final," Stringer's Ireland and Munster team-mate Des Clohessy revealed. "He's not going to play this week as a precaution, but he should be fine for the game in Lille. He jarred his ankle a bit against Blackrock, but it's not as bad as they thought it would be." Munster already have some serious injury worries with back-rows David Wallace and Alan Quinlan doubtful. Wallace damaged knee ligaments when training with the Ireland squad, while Quinlan broke his thumb playing for Shannon.
Filed by Pat Nugent
