Saturday 1 October 2016 07:05, UK
Peter O'Mahony has handed Ireland a big boost ahead of the autumn internationals by finally recovering from a knee ligament injury.
The Munster captain has been sidelined since sustaining the damage during Ireland's 24-9 Rugby World Cup pool victory over France on October 11 last year.
The 27-year-old has endured a prolonged recovery but has finally been passed fit enough to take a seat on Munster's replacements' bench for Saturday's Guinness PRO12 clash with Zebre at Thomond Park.
"Following the successful rehabilitation of an ACL rupture sustained in Ireland's historic World Cup win over France last October, O'Mahony will hope to see some game time after being named amongst the replacements," read Munster's statement.
The news comes as a welcome fillip for Joe Schmidt as a fit O'Mahony would be a big addition to an Ireland squad that faces a tough schedule in November with two games against New Zealand as well as fixtures against Canada and Australia.
Ireland open their autumn run by taking on the All Blacks in Chicago on November 5 and the uncompromising back-rower will do all in his power to be involved.
"I think I have dealt quite well with the injury, not just around the squad but at home as well," O'Mahony told the Irish Examiner.
"It was a long-term injury and I prepared myself for that but the last six to eight weeks were tough, just being on the edge and nearly there.
"Training on your own is tough because it's a team sport. For the last few weeks I've been lacing up the boots to go out and do a full session which was exciting.
"It will take me another few weeks [to regain full match sharpness]. There's only so much you can train, how much you can simulate in training.
"So it will be a case of getting out there and throwing myself about and seeing how I get on."
Simon Zebo has overcome a rib injury to start at full-back for Munster this weekend, in further positive news for Ireland.
