Ulster hit by injuries before Munster game in Belfast
Written by I Dig SportsUlster have a long list of injury doubts for Friday night's United Rugby Championship encounter against Irish rivals Munster at Kingspan Stadium.
Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, Werner Kok, Nathan Doak and Aidan Morgan all picked up injuries in the Investec Champions Cup defeat by Bordeaux on Saturday.
Ulster said on Monday that the six players will be "monitored through training this week to ascertain their fitness to play in Friday's fixture".
Ben Carson and Stewart Moore, who were injured in Ulster's opening Champions Cup game against Toulouse, are "ongoing doubts" for the inter-provincial showdown.
However, there was some good news for Ulster with scrum-half John Cooney available for selection after resuming full team training.
Munster's weekend defeat by Castres also came at a cost with Craig Casey needing surgery after he sustained a meniscus injury.
Thaakir Abrahams dislocated his shoulder and will have scans to determine whether he requires surgery.
Dian Bleuler was removed after failing his head injury assessment and is following the return-to-play protocols while Diarmuid Barron passed his HIA and will be monitored following a shoulder injury.
Peter O'Mahony is a doubt with a calf contusion and Jean Kleyn is seeing a specialist for a thigh injury.