CONNACHT COACH PAT Lam has received triple injury boost as he bids to notch his side’s third Heineken Cup win of the campaign when they entertain Zebre at the Sportsground on Saturday.
Lam said they still have a lot to play for as aside from an outside chance of making the quarter-finals as a win over the Italians on Saturday would also see them heading to play Saracens with a possible last eight place in the Amlin Challenge Cup up for grabs.
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The New Zealander was rewarded for giving youth a fling against Leinster at the weekend and while they went down to a 16-8 defeat, the performances of young players such as Darragh Leader and Jack Carty has given great hope following the emergence of others such as Robbie Henshaw and Kieran Marmion.
Lam is now boosted by the return of another young gun with former New Zealand U-20 captain Jake Heenan returning from injury, while out-half Craig Ronaldson also looks like being available.
Gavin Duffy also returns giving Lam plenty of options behind the scrum as they bid to repeat their 33-6 Heineken Cup win over Zebre in October in Italy.
“Jake Heenan trained today and we are hopeful that he will be available this week and Craig Ronaldson will also be available if he gets through training tomorrow (Tuesday),” said Lam.
The most vital thing is that we get the win on Saturday. If you are alive in that last week then all options are open to you so the key thing for us is to get the win on Saturday and you never know what is going to happen in all the other results.
“But our main objective is come away with the points and have something to play for on the final weekend when we go to London,” he added.
Meanwhile, Connacht skipper Craig Clarke had cause for celebration after his wife Veree gave birth to their first child, a daughter Isabella.
Connacht handed triple injury boost ahead of Zebre test
CONNACHT COACH PAT Lam has received triple injury boost as he bids to notch his side’s third Heineken Cup win of the campaign when they entertain Zebre at the Sportsground on Saturday.
Lam said they still have a lot to play for as aside from an outside chance of making the quarter-finals as a win over the Italians on Saturday would also see them heading to play Saracens with a possible last eight place in the Amlin Challenge Cup up for grabs.
The New Zealander was rewarded for giving youth a fling against Leinster at the weekend and while they went down to a 16-8 defeat, the performances of young players such as Darragh Leader and Jack Carty has given great hope following the emergence of others such as Robbie Henshaw and Kieran Marmion.
Lam is now boosted by the return of another young gun with former New Zealand U-20 captain Jake Heenan returning from injury, while out-half Craig Ronaldson also looks like being available.
Gavin Duffy also returns giving Lam plenty of options behind the scrum as they bid to repeat their 33-6 Heineken Cup win over Zebre in October in Italy.
“Jake Heenan trained today and we are hopeful that he will be available this week and Craig Ronaldson will also be available if he gets through training tomorrow (Tuesday),” said Lam.
“But our main objective is come away with the points and have something to play for on the final weekend when we go to London,” he added.
Meanwhile, Connacht skipper Craig Clarke had cause for celebration after his wife Veree gave birth to their first child, a daughter Isabella.
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