Influential Ulster forward Marcell Coetzee faces a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s Champions Cup quarter-final with Toulouse at Stade Ernest Wallon.
The former Springbok was replaced just 48 minutes into Saturday’s 27-5 defeat to Leinster in the Guinness PRO14 final at the Aviva.
And head coach Dan McFarland revealed today that the experienced back rower is wrestling with a “couple of niggles” ahead of a daunting trip to France.
“Marcell had a tough week last week,” he said. “Physically he carried a couple of niggles going into the (Leinster) game and didn’t train as much as he would have wanted.
“In the game he tightened up a little bit as well, so as far as he’s concerned we’ll have to see how he goes this week.”
It was only last week that McFarland hailed Coetzee as a “clutch player” and “massive” influence on Ulster’s starting XV.
“Physically he’s massive but he also makes clutch plays in games you need clutch players,” he said prior to the Pro14 final.
“When you need a jackal because you’re under pressure, he also pulls it out of the bag. The last 20 minutes when you need a number of muscular carries he’ll do that for you.
“He works tirelessly for us and he’s a great man to have around.”
While McFarland is playing a waiting game on Coetzee’s availability, he has no concerns over fit-again Iain Henderson who captained Ulster at the Aviva.
It was the Ireland lock’s first competitive action in seven months after undergoing surgery on a hip problem in July.
“Iain came through really well and is good to go,” said McFarland. “I thought he did a remarkable job.
“We showed a clip this morning of him doubling up in big tackles which was terrific and exactly what I expected.”
