Munster's remarkable spirit (and more practically, defence) was on show against Ulster at the weekend: a team decimated by injury, with Peter O'Mahony standing on the wing and their fourth-choice scrum-half on for the final stages, still managed to secure a victory, their 26th win in all competitions this season. The greatest on-field challenge of this season lies ahead, with Munster heading north on Saturday to joust with European champions, Saracens.
While the spirit and mentality on show against Ulster were admirable, chances are Munster will need as many of their front-line players as possible if they are to dethrone the champions.
Munster today delivered some mixed injury news over the two biggest worries: CJ Stander and Conor Murray. Stander limped out of the quarter-final win over Toulouse, but Munster expect him to be fit for Saturday, with a return to full training on the agenda this week.
Murray, however, still hasn't completed any contact work since his injury against Wales in the Six Nations, and he is rated as a doubt to face Saracens. In better news at scrum-half, Duncan Williams, who proved an able deputy for Murray against Toulouse, has recovered from a groin strain and should be fit for the semi-final.
Elsewhere, the injury that forced Rory Scannell off against Ulster has been deemed less serious than first feared, and is merely an ankle sprain. Munster say that he will be assessed this week. Darren Sweetnam is undergoing the return to play protocols after sustaining a concussion against Ulster.
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