How is Muls recovery coming along ??

Winger Matt Healy, who made his debut in Dublin, suffered a hand fracture and is expected to be out of action for three to four weeks.

Think that's Matt Healy gone he's way to injury prone or unlucky but we can't afford to keep players like that.

rossie wrote:

phatguerilla wrote: Sounds like there might be a mini crisis at 7 for this week at least, if JOC plays he probably won't be more than 80% which isn't going to help anyone tbh. Not thought much of Grace at 7 he's a 6 if he's anything imo. Is macca back, maybe george at 8 and mckeon at 7?

Grace is an out and out 7 imo. hes way too small for 6. His big problem is that he just cant seem to hold onto the ball. He knocks on more than any player ive ever seen.

Hes good on the floor though and carrys well when he does hold onto it. He gets through a huge amount of work for the eagles. If only for those Knock ons!

Fair enough I haven't had a chance to see any eagles games, maybe he'll show what he can do this weekend so, another back up 7 would be a big plus. We don't need even more players on the field that are making frequent knock ons though, so that's a bit worrying.

phatguerilla wrote: Sounds like there might be a mini crisis at 7 for this week at least, if JOC plays he probably won't be more than 80% which isn't going to help anyone tbh. Not thought much of Grace at 7 he's a 6 if he's anything imo. Is macca back, maybe george at 8 and mckeon at 7?

Grace is an out and out 7 imo. hes way too small for 6. His big problem is that he just cant seem to hold onto the ball. He knocks on more than any player ive ever seen.

Hes good on the floor though and carrys well when he does hold onto it. He gets through a huge amount of work for the eagles. If only for those Knock ons!

Sounds like there might be a mini crisis at 7 for this week at least, if JOC plays he probably won't be more than 80% which isn't going to help anyone tbh. Not thought much of Grace at 7 he's a 6 if he's anything imo. Is macca back, maybe george at 8 and mckeon at 7?

Squad Update



Connacht Rugby returned to training on New Year’s Day ahead of Saturday afternoon’s home clash with Newport Gwent Dragons in round 13 of the RaboDirect PRO12.

The squad has been boosted with the recent return to fitness of centres Mata Fifita and Kyle Tonetti. Both will play with their respective clubs this weekend –Bucanneers RFC and Lansdowne RFC - and are expected to be available for selection as the province looks to the Heineken Cup competition next week.

Out half Miah Nikora is also set to return either this week or next after suffering a minor groin injury in the lead up to the game against Munster.

Winger Fetu’u Vainikolo missed out on the last round of RaboDirect PRO12 action due to injury but is set to return to the fray this week.

There were a few knocks picked up during Saturday’s defeat to Leinster. Winger Matt Healy, who made his debut in Dublin, suffered a hand fracture and is expected to be out of action for three to four weeks.

Forward Johnny O’Connor also picked up an injury and his involvement this weekend is in doubt.

While Dave McSharry and Michael Swift suffered knocks at the RDS, they have both been given the ‘all clear’ and returned to full training yesterday.

As the province face into a big month of games both in the PRO12 and Heineken Cup competitions, Head Coach Eric Elwood looks ahead to the first game of 2013:

“This game against Dragons is a vitally important one for the club. We’re side by side at the bottom of the table so this is a huge game for both teams. Obviously, with us at home, the pressure is on us to win it. The key thing is that we learn from the mistakes of the last two derby matches that we’ve had. And the main focus for us this weekend is about getting everything right ourselves to secure the win.”

Connacht Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons
At Sportsground, 5pm.
Referee: Andrew MacMenemy (SRU, 18th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Mark Patton, Kevin Beggs (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: John Cole (IRFU)

forgot to add yesterday about john muldoon.
he was in athlone running on an anti-gravity treadmill. he was only putting 40% of his bodyweight on this legs when running. according to himself, he's 5 1/2 weeks ahead of what was planned

It will be good to have him back soon. With himself and Griffin back it should afford McSharry a day off here or there. Hopefully the current traffic trend from the physio's table will continue with more coming off than going on.

Tonetti was doing some light jogging this morning after a week over in Germany with the Wolf sorting out his hamstring.

Hopefully he will be back in the new year

At present Connacht have 8 of their 38 man European squad out injured (see the Biarritz thread) and 3 who may or may not make it. In addition several players (Anderson, Murphy, Nolan) were not placed on the HEC squad due to long term injury, though only Murphy would be a definite/likely inclusion in the 23 if everyone was fit.

Leinster ar emissing at least 5: Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney, O'Driscoll, O'Malley, Roux.

Munster are missing Dougall, O'Donnell, and Ronan in the back row alone (as well as Stander who is not part of the HEC panel but would have replaced another player on it had he not been injured), plus O'Connell and Murray missed Saturday's game with injury.

I'm probably missing injured players from both provinces.

So it's a bit worse but not notably so.

Do Connacht have the same injurys as other rugby teams?

Even thought rugby is very much a contact sport, it seems to me that they have a massive injury list.

Is it beacuse they are unlucky or could it be a more serious matter regarding training/warmup/treatment of injuries not being done right.

Just curious really if anyone had some insights

Currently out for the Edinburgh fixture:

TJ Anderson, Finlay Bealham, Mata Fifita, Eoin Griffin, Frank Murphy, John Muldoon, George Naoupu, Dave Nolan and Kyle Tonetti.

Mike McCarthy and Ronan Loughney are doubtful and Fetu is been rested.

connachtexile wrote: Whats up with Anderson i thought he was fit? Anyone know the story?

Presume it's a knock he picked up playing AIL for Garryowen....

Whats up with Anderson i thought he was fit? Anyone know the story?

Connacht Rugby Pro12 Press Release wrote:
Reynecke returns to training

For immediate release Tuesday 20th November 2012
Issued on behalf of Connacht Rugby

Dear Editor

The Connacht squad trained in Galway yesterday ahead of Friday's RaboDirect PRO12 trip to face Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade (KO: 7pm).

Hooker Ethienne Reynecke returned from a recent calf injury and is available for selection this week.

Meanwhile, versatile forward George Naoupu is still nursing an ankle injury and will continue to be monitored over the next few weeks.

TJ Anderson, Eoin Griffin, Frank Murphy, John Muldoon, Dave Nolan and Kyle Tonetti remain unavailable for selection due to injury.

The team to face Dragons will be announced by 12pm on Friday 22nd November.

Bad news.

www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2012/1119/1224326827293.html ]

Muldoon out for "up to 3 months".