Connacht’s injury crisis worsens ahead of return leg with Newcastle Falcons

IN a tale of two Connachts, it’s the worst of times and it’s the best of times.

As of midweek, just 21 players – two less than a full match day squad of 23 – were fit and available for selection in this Sunday’s European Challenge Cup return leg in Newcastle (3pm).

And just eight of those available are backs in what is undoubtedly the province’s worst injury crisis of the Pat Lam era. That’s the bad news. But the flip of that is, against such a bleak backdrop, wasn’t Connacht’s 25-10 victory over the Falcons last Friday night in the Sportsground sweet?

Ravaged by injuries to the ‘main men’, this was a team short on experience as six Connacht Academy players featured, including starters Rory Parata, Peter Robb, Ultan Dillane, Sean O’Brien, James Connolly and substitute Shane Delahunt.

Added to that, there was a new pairing in the pivotal half-back positions with scrum-half Caolin Blade partnering fly-half Jack Carty; and Robb and Parata combining in the centre for the first time.

Then there was the match-day disruption with captain Tiernan O’Halloran a late injury withdrawal meaning winger Matt Healy, who is now becoming a ‘Jack of all trades’, switching to the unfamiliar position of full-back. Then there were more injuries in the game – centre Dave McSharry was desperately unlucky to get concussed on his first appearance on returning from injury – and a sin-binning.

And still Connacht prevailed by 15 points, with Carty, in particular, confounding critics with a man-of-the-match performance that included six penalties and a conversion.

“It’s just the way this team is,” declared Lam. “That’s why I was so pleased after the game. Potentially it could have been a disaster for us. But it’s in line with a lot of things that have happened this year.”

Lam praised the young guns who stepped up on Friday and who will be asked to do so again.  “They are Academy by name. But I think the biggest thing is that they’ve been integrated well into the group and are very much part of the group.

“Most importantly, they have no fear because fear always comes from uncertainty or isolation. But they have real certainty about what the plan is because a lot of work by the coaches is being put into them. And then with the other senior players, certainly they are not isolated, they know the way we operate is as a team. They go out knowing ‘it’s not just me against this team, it’s me and my teammates’.”

Despite the injury gloom, including another set-back for Denis Buckley, who underwent ankle surgery Wednesday and will be out for two additional months, there are positives with Craig Ronaldson, Andrew Browne and Eoghan Masterson returning while Georgian-born Academy Saba Meunargia has been registered to play in the cup.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.