Munster's hopes of taking down Clermont in the south of France on Saturday have been hit with confirmation that young out-half Ben Healy has been ruled out.
Reds boss Johann van Graan was highly critical of the treatment dished out to Healy by Harlequins players when the 21-year-old came on in the opening Champions Cup win at Thomond Park.
Munster returned to training today ahead of the daunting Clermont trip but Healy, who underwent a MRI yesterday, is to begin rehab on a shoulder injury.
In better news for the province, Jeremy Loughman (shoulder) and Niall Scannell (neck) have returned to full training and are available for selection.
It comes after Andy Farrell has confirmed that Ireland will play the All Blacks on a three-Test tour in New Zealand in the summer of 2022.
The tour will be a key part of Farrell's preparations for the next Rugby World Cup in France the following year, with Ireland today drawn against world champions South Africa and Scotland in Pool B.
Farrell is excited about the prospect of a number of his top players making the Lions squad for the scheduled tour of South Africa next summer, if it goes ahead.
He is also hopeful that Ireland will tour the Pacific Islands as scheduled next summer, depending on the situation with Covid-19.
But the big red-letter dates in his World Cup preparation will be those three Test matches with the All Blacks on their own turf, which will be a real examination of Ireland's mettle under the Englishman.
Ireland's hopes of making the World Cup semi-finals for the first time are not strong, given that in all likelihood hosts France or the All Blacks will be waiting in the quarter-finals, but that tour could be the making of Farrell's side.
