Ireland and Munster have been hit by a new injury blow with the news that Paul O'Connell has been ruled out of action for six months. The second row, who shot to prominence last season as a rookie during Munster's run to the Heineken Cup final, underwent back surgery in Cork yesterday, ruling him out of the entire Celtic League campaign, the pre-Christmas Heineken Cup group matches, Ireland's World Cup qualification programme and the autumn internationals against Australia, Fiji and Argentina.
That leaves new Munster coach Alan Gaffney with more problems in their pack following the loss of Lions back row David Wallace for a similar period. Munster have made two pre-season signings already with the addition of Australian prop Simon Kerr following the retirement of veteran front row star Peter Clohessy and scrum-half Dom Malone moving from Northampton as back-up to Peter Stringer.
With Mick Galwey in semi-retirement and looking to develop a backroom role within the camp, it leaves only Donncha O'Callaghan and Mick O'Driscoll as recognised second row forwards and Munster manager Jerry Holland conceded today that a new lock forward was now an urgent priority. He confirmed: "We are searching for a replacement even though we acknowledge it's at the end of the year and it's a question of who is available."
Filed by Shane Murray
