Jager on hand to make Munster bow in province's latest Leinster tussle

Oli Jager could be set for a Munster debut against Leinster in Dublin this Saturday, offering a potentially huge boost to an injury-hit squad that has now seen Peter O’Mahony and Jack O’Donoghue join the casualty list.

Irish-qualified tighthead prop Jager’s move from the Crusaders was confirmed by the URC champions last week, bringing to an end a seven-year stint in Super Rugby in which the 28-year-old played a part in five title-winning campaigns for the New Zealand franchise.

He is available with immediate effect although Graham Rowntree will assess Jager’s readiness to play a part in the Aviva Stadium clash over the coming days following the long-haul journey from the New Zealand’s South Island.

A debut against Munster’s arch rivals, and the London-born Jager’s “home” province having been educated at Newbridge College and Blackrock College, would make for perfect timing following a testing 10-3 victory over the Stormers at Thomond Park on Saturday night. 

The South Africans’ powerhouse pack put Munster’s scrum under severe pressure in a hard-fought contest between last season’s Grand Finalists.

Rowntree has been relying on veteran tightheads John Ryan and Stephen Archer this season with younger props Roman Salanoa, 26, sidelined by a knee injury and Keynan Knox, 24, apparently surplus to requirements in the final year of his contract, having started four of the first six rounds of AIL Division 1A for Young Munster.

“We’ve made a couple of signings there which will help the set-piece in my mind,” the head coach said on Saturday night. “Oli will be here this week, before you ask.” 

As to Jager’s availability for this weekend’s derby, Rowntree added: “We’ll see. It depends if he’s been in business class or not. We’ll see but he’ll be on deck in some capacity at the back end of the week.

“I’ve kept an eye on him for a long time. He’s been playing in a very good set-up at the Crusaders, a good man. I think he’ll add to us, I really do.” 

Munster have been light on options across the front row this season with hookers Niall Scannell and Diarmuid Barron out injured at the weekend, Scott Buckley playing the full 80 minutes against the Stormers in just his second start. 

Chris Moore, a summer 2022 signing from Exeter University, was an unused replacement and forced to wait a little longer for a senior debut. 

Former academy hooker Eoghan Clarke rejoined last week following Jersey Reds’ liquidation and withdrawal from the English Premiership and Munster also signed back-three player Colm Hogan after a spell with New Zealand NPC side Tasman Mako, both on short-term contracts.

At loosehead, academy props Kieran Ryan and Mark Donnelly had held the fort through URC rounds two and three before Jeremy Loughman’s return from World Cup duty and Josh Wycherley’s recovery from a neck injury, with Dave Kilcoyne yet to reappear following Ireland’s quarter-final exit last month.

Rowntree is now fearful captain O’Mahony and fellow back-rower O’Donoghue are facing weeks out of action following Saturday’s bruising encounter. 

O’Mahony, making his seasonal debut following the World Cup, was withdrawn at half-time with a shoulder issue while his replacement O’Donoghue played the whole of the second period but suffered what is thought to be an ankle injury in the process.

“We’ll see what Monday morning brings. I don’t think I’ll see them next week,” Rowntree said of the injured duo.

“Pete, I’ll find out more, he needs a scan on his shoulder, he has a shoulder issue and we’ll find out more post the scan.

“We’ll find out (about O’Donoghue) from the scan but he gets back, hobbles back into the line and he’s still available to make a tackle, it’s incredible, an incredible bit of footage.

The head coach added: “Everybody’s got injuries. We had two back-three players (Keith Earls and Andrew Conway) retire last month so we’ve bolstered that… I’ll see Monday morning. We’ve got a big squad and fortunately our young men are training with us every day and we’re bringing them through so I’ll look at our back up.

“We’ll probably lose Pete, Jack O’Donoghue, for a few weeks at least but we’ve got Ruadhan Quinn, Brian Gleeson, Alex Kendellen there as well, coming through. So the fact they’ve been training with us and have played for us means they’ll be up to speed.”