Rassie Erasmus Gives Update Regarding Peter O’Mahony’s Fitness

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony won’t be rushed back into action, says Munster’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.

The flanker has been out of action over over a year after injuring his knee in Ireland’s win over France at last year’s Rugby World Cup. Munster confirmed yesterday that while O’Mahony has now returned to training, he will maintain a modified routine.

O’Mahony said himself earlier in the year that he expected to be back in action for round 3 of the PRO12, which was this past weekend, but Erasmus says there’s nothing to gain from rushing him back to the fold too soon.

“We are just being over-cautious,” the South African told the Irish Independent.

“We have got a bulk of loose forwards fit and available and playing well. I’d rather take a week or so longer. There is no setback with him.

“He was thinking game three or four, but because the guys are fit and playing really well, why risk him?

“A guy like him will always be missed on the field, but we might even stretch till after next week.

“But listen, he is taking part in mauling, in scrumming and everything.

“We’ve got an opportunity to be cautious here and we are taking it that way. Also we would like him to be fit next year come May so we would like to make sure that he is 100%, almost like we did with Tyler [Bleyendaal] now.

“I think we have learned our lessons previously with Tyler. If we had another week we would wait another week.”