Connacht rocked by forward crisis for trip to Wales
Date Published: {J}
NOT since the start of the 2006/2007 season has Connacht commenced a Magners League campaign with back-to-back wins and – given that the province has only recorded one victory in Wales since 2004 – it’s easy to see why the Llanelli Scarlets are favourites to take the spoils at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday at 3pm.
Connacht got off to a flyer at the Sportsground last Saturday, thrashing a poor Newport Gwent Dragons outfit 40-17, scoring four tries and earning their first try bonus point since April 2009, and enter this clash high on confidence as they sit pretty on top of the table, eleven places from bottom where they have become accustomed to. But confidence is no substitute for players and the strength in depth of the squad – or lack of it – will be massively tested this weekend as Eric Elwood has a number of injury concerns, including a crisis in the back-row.
Summer signing Ezra Taylor looks set to be ruled-out for at least four weeks and possibly six when the results of a scan come back today. The new number eight endured a difficult debut, picking up a knee ligament injury and also getting sin-binned in the Dragons match.Rising city star and former Jes player, Shane Conneely (20), has been called into the squad to provide cover on the bench with Mike McComish expected to start in place of Taylor, as captain John Muldoon and Johnny O’Connor remain on the treatment table. Andrew Browne is also a doubt.
Elwood delayed the announcement of the starting 15 so as assess the injuries to other key players, including centre Niva Ta’auso, who remains an injury doubt, and new summer signing Darragh Fanning, who impressed in the pre-season matches against Harelquins and Saracens, is brought in as cover in the backline.
For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.