Ireland could be without forward Tadhg Beirne for their Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 1st due to injury.
The lock was carried off during Munster’s Champions Cup loss to Saracens on Saturday and he appeared to be in a lot of discomfort.
While it is unclear what exactly the injury is at the moment, Munster head coach Johann van Graan was not upbeat while speaking after the game.
“We lost Tadhg. It looks pretty serious. I have got no idea. I don’t know. I don’t even want to speculate on it. I haven’t spoken to him,â€? he said to Off the Ball.
It appears as though the former Scarlets player picked up a knock to the ankle and is now looking like he could be out of action for a while and with the Six Nations fast approaching he could miss out on the start of the competition.
As well as Beirne Munster lost prop John Ryan to a calf injury during the game and captain Peter O’Mahony pulled up in the pre-match warm-up due to a groin injury, with the extent of both injuries unconfirmed.
It has put the trio in doubt for Munster’s interprovincial derbies of the Christmas period as well as Ireland’s Six Nations and adds to new head coach Andy Farrell’s growing injury headache.
Before this he was sweating on the fitness of fly-halves Johnny Sexton and Joey Carbery, as well as possible newcomer Ronan Kelleher. While the likes of Dan Leavy remain on the long-term injury list with problems stretching back months, while Leinster’s Ross Byrne was forced to leave the field early during his side’s win over Northampton Saints over the weekend with a leg injury.
The hope will be that all will have swift recoveries and be in contention for the Irish come the Scotland game, but for now Farrell will have his fingers crossed as he awaits scans and results.
