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Big blow for Connacht as Springbok-capped Boshoff out until March

Pat Lam had hoped Boshoff would provide a strong place-kicking option at out-half.

CONNACHT HAVE BEEN dealt a heavy injury blow with new signing Marnitz Boshoff sidelined due to a shoulder injury that might not see him return until next March.

The South African out-half – capped once by the Springboks – suffered a shoulder injury in his first start for Connacht against Treviso last Saturday week and it is feared that it will be three months before he recovers from surgery.

Marnitz Boshoff and Stacey Ili Boshoff has only recently arrived at Connacht. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Connacht, who lost Pro12 winning out-half AJ MacGinty to Sale Sharks during the summer as the Dubliner is not Irish-qualified after playing for the USA, have had difficulty off the tee this season and it had been hoped that Boshoff could be the solution.

Out-half Jack Carty managed a return of 60% against Wasps on Sunday in the Champions Cup, with two penalty attempts going askew at key moments in either half, the second miss coming when Connacht trailed by 20-17 going into the final quarter.

Wasps pushed on to claim a bonus point in a 32-17 triumph, with Connacht leaving empty-handed and under pressure to produce a result at the Sportsground on Saturday.

But with Craig Ronaldson already ruled out until mid-to-late January with a thigh injury, the extent of the shoulder injury suffered by Boshoff leaves kicking options fairly thin for Pat Lam.

Scrum-half John Cooney, outstanding off the tee in the recent win over Cardiff, is an option but he is hardly likely to replace Ireland international Kieran Marmion, who was outstanding on Sunday.

An injury to Carty — he was the only Connacht player taking place kicks in the warm-up on Sunday at the Ricoh Arena — would leave the Pro12 champions in an awkward position for the festive derby games away to Ulster and home to Munster, given that both Ronaldson and now Boshoff will be out for some time.

Marnitz Boshoff The injury to Boshoff is another blow for Connacht. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Boshoff’s arrival at the Sportsground was delayed as the 27-year old helped the Golden Lions reach the semi-finals of the Currie Cup.

The out-half, capped by the Boks off the bench against Scotland two years ago, made his Connacht debut as a replacement for the closing 13 minutes against Cardiff before suffering his shoulder injury seven minutes from the end of the win over Treviso.

Lam is also sweating on injuries picked up by Bundee Aki, Stacey Ili, Tiernan O’Halloran, Cian Kelleher and Jake Heenan in Covnetry as Connacht plot a revenge mission against unbeaten Wasps on Saturday.

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    Mute Bazalicous Dunne
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    Dec 13th 2016, 7:00 AM

    Real shame they didn’t hold onto mcginty instead of getting this lad in instead. Between the whole currie cup delay and now the injury coupled with Cartys bad record off the tee you’d imagine AJ could have been a much better option

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    Mute Bazalicous Dunne
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    Dec 13th 2016, 7:13 AM

    Retrospective thinking I know!!

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    Mute John Rogers
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    Dec 13th 2016, 8:19 AM

    @Bazalicous Dunne: They weren’t allowed to hold onto AJ. IRFU rules on the number of “foreign” players in the squad meant he had to go.

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    Mute David Davidson
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    Dec 13th 2016, 8:32 AM

    @John Rogers: Thats because we signed Boshoff.

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    Mute David Lyons
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    Dec 13th 2016, 9:02 AM

    Lam loved Mcginty and has said he will sign him for whatever club he’s at when AJs contract expires with Sale, so they did everything they could to keep him but had already signed Boshoff

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    Mute Darragh Ruddy
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    Dec 13th 2016, 10:31 AM

    @John Rogers: That’s what he said.

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    Mute John Curtin
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    Dec 13th 2016, 8:37 AM

    Why can’t we sign a medical joker like Munster did?

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Dec 13th 2016, 8:51 AM

    You probably can. Mind you, looks like Keats will be available soon.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Dec 13th 2016, 11:22 AM

    Maybe they should sign JJ.

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    Mute David Davidson
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    Dec 13th 2016, 11:24 AM

    @Chris Mcdonnell: Aparently could be on his way back to Munster next season.

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    Mute Glenbower
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    Dec 13th 2016, 8:56 AM

    Just a guess but maybe Rory Parata should start practising kicking off the tee ? He has played fly-half, including for Ireland U19, and looks as if he can kick out of hand. Is likely to be on the pitch in the centre quite a lot in the next few months too.

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    Mute Damien
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    Dec 13th 2016, 7:14 AM

    So let me get this straight, McGinty went as he wasn’t Irish qualified and this lad capped by SA?

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    Mute Bazalicous Dunne
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    Dec 13th 2016, 7:18 AM

    They had to let mcginty go cos both were internationally capped and IRFU rules dictate only one NIQ fly half allowed

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    Mute Ewan Euphrenza
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    Dec 13th 2016, 8:13 AM

    MacGinty didn’t break into the first team until after Connacht had signed this lad.

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    Mute David Hickey
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    Dec 13th 2016, 5:48 PM

    True, many forget McGinty only really played regularly for Connacht last year in March, April and May.

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    Mute John Rogers
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    Dec 13th 2016, 8:21 AM

    This is not good to say the least. Last season our injuries didn’t hurt us as bad since everyone coming in took over from where the injured player left off. This season nothing is going half as smoothly. It will be a miracle if we manage to finish in the top 6.

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    Mute bobby henderson
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    Dec 13th 2016, 10:12 AM

    Is the oleary dude injured? Played very well last year , haven’t seen much of him lately

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    Mute Glenbower
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    Dec 13th 2016, 11:21 AM

    @bobby henderson: Maybe he’s busy on his ranch. Seriously, if O’Leary can place kick more reliably, maybe O’Leary could play #10 and Carty #12 until Ronaldson and/or Bishoff return. I suspect Pat Lam knows best.

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    Mute Ewan Euphrenza
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    Dec 13th 2016, 7:04 PM

    More likely Carty 10, O’Leary at 12. O’Leary was signed from Grenoble as a centre.

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    Mute Bazalicous Dunne
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    Dec 13th 2016, 7:16 AM

    I wonder will connacht re-sign Keatley for next season now that JJ is going back to Munster??

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Dec 13th 2016, 8:51 AM

    Probably

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    Mute ailbhe
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    Dec 13th 2016, 2:29 PM

    I wouldn’t think keatly would be that reliable either but I suppose he would be a bit better than carty

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    Mute Ewan Euphrenza
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    Dec 13th 2016, 2:35 PM

    Keatley spent just three seasons with Connacht, but is still their top scorer, above Elwood was there for around 50 years. That was at a time when Connacht used to basically throw certain league games under Bradley. I reckon that’s reliable enough compared to Carty’s 60% accuracy.

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    Mute David Hickey
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    Dec 13th 2016, 5:51 PM

    Keatley was one of Connacht’s best ever players. The amount of games he won and his kick percentages were unreal. However, i would be scepital of him regaining that form if he was to return.

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    Mute David Hickey
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    Dec 13th 2016, 6:38 PM

    *skeptical

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Dec 13th 2016, 8:40 PM

    He might do well with a fresh start. I’d imagine Munster is a right pressure cooker the last few seasons.

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    Mute Ewan Euphrenza
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    Dec 13th 2016, 10:22 AM

    What happened to Shane O’Leary?

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    Mute Max Power
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    Dec 13th 2016, 10:40 AM

    He was following return to play protocols last week so he may be available for selection for the home leg. Will have to see what the injury update is later this week.

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    Mute Gavin O Toole
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    Dec 13th 2016, 10:50 AM

    Would it ever be a possibility to play cooney at 10?

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