A wrist operation is the latest Joey Carbery injury and the out-half is set for a spell on the sidelines likely ruling him out of Andy Farrell's first Six Nations.
The former Leinster out-half has only started four games since last January and his next start is unlikely to be any time soon. Gerry Thornley in the Irish Times suggested the Carbery injury could rule him out for up to three months.
The Carbery injury is a problem for both Andy Farrell and Johann van Graan who both are shorn of out-half options. Munster's need is more immediate with a must-win game in Paris on Sunday against Racing 92 on the horizon.
Woes
Munster currently sit second in Pool 4 behind Racing, only a point ahead of Saracens. The Carbery injury has added to the woes around who will play in the number ten shirt on Sunday. JJ Hanrahan, having had a good run in Carbery's absence has been nursing hamstring issues over the festive period while Tyler Bleyendaal has not been seen in red since November.
Ben Healy was swapped into the Munster Heineken European Champions Cup squad in November for Alex Wooton but has not featured in the competition so far. The academy out-half was an unused sub against Connacht in his only appearance over the busy festive period.
This unwelcome scenario raises the likelihood of centre Rory Scannell, who was removed with cramp against Ulster, starting at out-half with possibly Healy on the bench for the most important game of Munster's season so far.
Munster's woes are not restricted to the out-half position. Andrew Conway is continuing to be monitored following his withdrawal as a precaution against Ulster. JJ Hanrahan and Tommy O’Donnell are both rehabbing from hamstring injuries sustained against Leinster, while Tadhg Beirne remains a long term injury absentee.
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