Munster boss Graham Rowntree addresses injury worries as Peter O'Mahony added to casualty list

Graham Rowntree will park Munster's growing injury problems until the start of next week - with Leinster at Croke Park the next game on the agenda.

Rowntree watched his side get their shock defeat to Zebre out of their system by beating Ospreys 23-0 on a brutal night in terms of the weather conditions at Virgin Media Park.

But he also saw Peter O'Mahony, Oli Jager and Mike Haley have to come off with injuries to add to an already extensive injury list.

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"We picked up a few knocks but we'll see what Monday presents in terms of scans," said Rowntree. "I'll wait until Monday. It's another week, another couple of injuries in the first half.

"We're struck at the moment, it happens, there's an ebb and a flow to every season in terms of injuries and we're a bit skinny at the moment, but we'll get through it.

"We'll see what Monday morning brings. We'll see how those guys pull up. We have a huge game next week now but it's about getting bodies on the field, so we'll have to modify what we do on Monday and we'll see what we can put on the field.

"But I've learned not to wait until Monday, not to worry about things until I get the scan results back and see how they are."

Despite the injury setbacks, Rowntree said it was a hugely satisfying response after last Saturday's reversal in Italy. "It was, to nil them as well at the end there, they bombarded our try-line, I was pleased," said the Reds boss.

"We were hoping for a reaction, in fact I was looking forward to a reaction and I thought our physicality and our accuracy in those conditions - they were shocking conditions. You don't appreciate it unless you're pitch-side.

"Trying to fathom a way of getting into their half in the second half of the game, we had one chance and we took it. Accuracy, physicality. Some guys had big moments, some young guys really showed up for us.

"Shay McCarthy's first touch of the game, it was excellent for us, and then we were chasing a bonus point and he had a key moment in the lead up to that try. Bryan Fitzgerald was excellent tonight, in the last minute of the game he's holding them up over the goal line. So that pleased me. We saw a reaction in our physicality and accuracy in the weather. They stand out for me."

Asked how Munster need to deal with the threat that Leinster will pose, Rowntree replied: "Control. Control in what we do, control the ball and dealing with their threats. Access is always a challenge against them, giving them penalty access, they've got loads of players around maul and breaking out of mauls, but we'll deal with that on Tuesday.

"We'll dust ourselves down on Monday and have a good review of this but at the end of a challenging week, I'm really proud of what they've done there tonight."

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