Munster’s preparations for their Guinness PRO14 semi-final at Champions Cup winners Leinster have been hit by the loss of tighthead prop Stephen Archer following surgery on a pectoral muscle. News of Archer’s operation emerged following Munster’s press conference on Monday, when captain Peter O’Mahony said he is relishing the opportunity to challenge Leinster after admitting “everyone’s jealous” of the newly-crowned European champions. The Munster skipper watched many of his Grand Slam-winning Ireland team-mates lift a second trophy this season when Leinster defeated Racing 92 in Bilbao on Saturday to win the Champions Cup final. “Every club in Europe now wants to be like Leinster, wants to be where Leinster are. It's 100 per cent deserved, they've been the best team in Europe and it's deserved that they've won, but what comes with it is every team wants to knock you.

Source: Evening echo May 14, 2018 13:30 UTC