There was mixed news for a couple of the burgeoning young Munster players yesterday as loose-head James Cronin was obliged to see a specialist regarding an ankle injury he sustained in their Champions Cup win over Saracens. By contrast, Andrew Conway was called in to the Irish squad's first day of camp in their Carton House after continuing his good form with a stand-out performance at Thomond Park.
The 23-year-old Cronin has been a revelation in the last season and a bit, winning his first cap on the summer tour to Argentina, and while Munster and Ireland were last night still awaiting the outcome of a scan, encouragingly he overcame a similar injury last season.
Conway's call-up was something the Munster coach Anthony Foley had hoped would be possible in the light of his performance against Saracens, when his covering of the backfield, chasing and carrying was possibly the pick of his 15 starts to date in an injury-troubled time with the province.
Bit of form
“He’s a good player and he does what is asked of him,” said Foley. “He’s found a bit of form now, and he’s good in the back field, he chases well and he’s also a dangerous runner with the ball.”
The Irish squad assembled yesterday carrying a few other scars from the weekend, namely Gordon D'Arcy (groin), Jack McGrath (arm) and Stuart Olding, who is undergoing return-to-play protocols after suffering suspected concussion.
Toulon's Romain Taofifenua has been cited for allegedly kicking Olding's head in Saturday's Champions Cup tie at Ravenhill. The French international was reported by the match citing commissioner and is set to face a disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Thursday. He could face a suspension of between four weeks and 12 months.
Ireland play South Africa at the Aviva on Saturday week, while some Leinster players in the squad are set to come up against their former boss, Michael Cheika, in their Guinness series finale against Australia a fortnight later. Kane Douglas, who won a Super 15 title with Cheika's Waratahs, has little doubt he will have a huge impact on the Wallabies.
“His honesty and how he’ll tell it like it is,” were the traits the lock highlighted.
