CONNACHT WILL HAVE to plan for the opening rounds of Heineken Champions Cup action without Kieran Marmion, with the scrum-half set to be out for three to four weeks with a back problem.
Marmion, a surprise omission from the World Cup squad, joins a number of other frontline players on the sideline, but head coach Andy Friend said that Connacht will just have to perform with the hand they are dealt with.
Connacht welcome Montpellier to the Sportsground on Sunday, and Friend has a second row crisis with Quinn Roux, Gavin Thornbury and the versatile Sean O’Brien all ruled out for the next few weeks.
It’s cruel luck on O’Brien who had just returned last weekend against Leinster for his first match since last December but now faces months on the sideline with a shoulder injury.
Former Irish U-20 Cillian Gallagher looks set for his Champions Cup debut and another Sligo native, scrum-half Stephen Kerins, is poised to be back-up to Caolin Blade.
The return of Ultan Dillane is a welcome boost for Friend as they prepare to take on Montpellier’s huge pack.
“They are a very physical side, very large men. We are very aware of that,” he said.
“We have had a good look at their previous games and if we get in an arm wrestle we are in strife. We are going to avoid that arm wrestle as best we can.
“We need our squad to be fit. We have a few injuries in one key position at the moment, but we are going to get those men back in dribs and drabs. Ultan is back this week which is pleasing, so we’ll see how the next few weeks play out and we’ll make some calls if we need to after that.
“I thought Cillian Gallagher was one that gave us lots of energy out there on Friday night against Leinster. That’s all you can ever ask is that he gives you that. His accuracy and his decision making will come with time but I thought he was good. It is good to have him fit and back.”
Friend said that Bundee Aki, who made his return to Connacht last weekend initially as a blood replacement and then as a substitute, is raring to have a go at Montpellier and Toulouse over the next two weekends.
“He’s been brilliant. The thing that hurt Bundee last weekend, you saw when he came off the bench, big roar from the crowd, he gets out there, magic energy and then we had to drag him back off again because Peter Robb is off in the blood bin.
“I don’t think Bundee has ever been in that situation before. He said to me after it was so hard coming off, it was brilliant getting out there and coming back off it was ‘ah what’s going on here!’ He had to get himself up again, that’s new territory for Bundee. But he’s been brilliant and Jack (Carty) has been brilliant too. Having those two men there is an important part and spine of our group. Great to have them out there for this weekend.”
Friend has bolstered his squad with some short-term signings with prop Peter McCabe returning to the province in place of the injured Paddy McAllister, while Irish U-20 lock Niall Murray steps up from the academy.
Brumbies academy product Will Goddard, an Irish-qualified back three player who can also play out-half, has also signed a short-term deal to the end of the year, while Eagles player Cormac Daly has also been drafted in as cover.
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Unfortunate for them with the injuries, would have been great to see them fully loaded having a crack at Europe.
Glad McCabe is back, good player, thought it was a poor decision in the Summer to let him go.
Wonder what Conan O’Donnell is up to this weather
@ScewMadd: He was togging out for Counties Manukau in the mitre cup, prior to that he was at the sunwolves. Since the mitre cups completion I am not sure where he’s at. He put in a few 80min performances for Counties and he looked v solid. They played him at lh for all but one of his starts. Connacht could do with him now that’s for sure.
@Ian Verdon: I thought O’Donnell and Kenny would be starting for Connacht as a duo for 10 years when they first came on the scene. Both looked serious prospects but O’Donnell didn’t work out for some reason and Kenny’s taking more time do come through that I thought he would. His technique needed a good bit of work but a serious specimen.
@Eddie Hekenui: O’Donnell impressed me for counties this season, granted I only saw 3 of his performances. He seems comfortable playing either side of the scrum and his skillset is good. Kenny at 133kg is certainly a specimen, for me he needs to shed a few kg’s. His athleticism isn’t bad for a lad of his weight but I think with an added injection of acceleration he could be more of a weapon with ball in hand and get around the park more. He’s only 23 which is still young for a prop. He could well be on the bench this weekend I’ll be keeping an eye on him if indeed he is and does get on.
@Ian Verdon: Having seen him in action last season he’s definitely trimmed down since he was an U20 so I doubt he’s still 133 but you’re spot on that he could still do with tightening things up a bit. Still looks to be carrying a bit of bad weight. He’s some engine on him considering his size too. He got through a mountain of work in the game I saw him live and he did a number on his opposite number in the scrum which was a bit of a weakness for him at U20 level.
Yeah O’Donnell was a lad I was really surprised got let go. He was a huge prospect at underage levels and it’s an area Connacht have very little depth. But the coaches saw him in action everyday so are sure to have had good reasons. Hopefully he can continue his career somewhere else and maybe work himself back into contention somewhere in Ireland.
@Eddie Hekenui: it states on Connacht’s team page he’s still 133kg but that may not have been updated. For his size he does have a impressive engine but even cutting down 5kg can make a world if difference to ones athleticism just look at Healy and killer.
O’Donnell is still only 23 himself maybe he’ll do a thornbury and try educate and develop his game in Nz playing m with likes of counties and come back in a year or so better for it. Wether that be with Connacht or indeed another province.
@Ian Verdon: I wouldn’t place much stock in figures listed on the clubs websites. They’re never updated. They get put in after the players initial testing and that’s it. I’d be less concerned with a weight figure than a composition one too. He looked like he’s lost a lot of the bad weight he was carrying and turned it into muscle.
This could be a massacre, as could every other Connacht match in the tournament