News that Munster’s academy outhalf Tom Wood will be sidelined until the end of the year following shoulder surgery has compounded Jack Crowley’s concurrent absence for the province.
Clayton McMillan’s side face Glasgow in their URC opener on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm) at Thomond Park, where Wood’s fellow academy outhalf Charlie O’Shea may start in his senior competitive debut if JJ Hanrahan doesn’t come through return-to-play protocols.
O’Shea started Munster’s final preseason game last Friday, a 32-24 defeat to Leicester in Cork.
“When he presented last week during the (squad) meeting, you would say he has 200 caps in the way he spoke,” said Munster forwards coach Jimmy Duffy of the 20-year-old. “If you’re good enough, you’re getting the opportunities, and he’s been magnificent. As all the lads have been, I can’t fault anyone.
“We haven’t played a competitive game yet. We obviously had our preseason games, but (O’Shea’s) a really impressive young man, and ably assisted by the guys around him like JJ, and Jack, and Tom. They’re all talking and sharing, and then competing, which is a big thing. He’s been impressing me and the other staff daily.”
Switching focus to Glasgow, Duffy said: “They’re top of the league in most statistics. They’re very, very strong in attack, a very big maul, a very big scrum.
“They love to counter-attack, they come and get you in defence. There’s a reason they’re in and around the Champions Cup knockouts last year and (URC) champions two seasons ago.”
Describing Franco Smith’s charges as a “settled” and “mature” side, Duffy added: “They’re a solid bunch of international players who like to attack and like to hurt you when they can.”