MUNSTER will aim to extend their season with a victory over Bulls in the URC quarter-final at Loftus Versfield, Pretoria on Saturday (12 noon, Irish time).
Missing out on a home last eight time was an obvious blow to a club under financial pressure.
On the injury front, Jack Crowley has been ruled out due to the return of an intermittent leg injury.
He was named to start in the home win against the Lions only to be withdrawn just before kick-off.
“It’s obviously a bit of a concern, because it’s a recurring injury,” coach Clayton McMillan said after the outing at Thomond Park. “Just that no one’s really able to get a handle on exactly what’s going on. It’s above my station what’s going on with his body, but I’m sure it will come right.”
McMillan had back then expressed confidence that Crowley would have been on the chartered flight that left for South Africa on Wednesday.
On the plus side, both Fineen Wycherley and Alex Nankivell have returned to training after withdrawing from the matchday squad two weeks ago.
Munster came close to victory in their most recent trip to Bulls (34-31), while McMillan’s side won (27-22) previously at the venue in spring 2024.
Meanwhile, Munster CEO Ian Flanagan has confirmed that the club has tabled an offer for Tyrel Lomax for a NIQ (non-Irish qualified) vacancy.
Lomax, 30, is currently with the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific and has been capped by the All Blacks 48 times.
“I think that Tyrel (tighthead) is out there shows people who ambitious we are, that we want to be as strong as possible, and we’re doing everything we can to make the team as strong as possible for next season,” Flanagan told the Irish Examiner.