John Cooney has been recalled to Leinster Rugby this week.

?!?

Squad Update ahead of Scarlets game
10th February 2015

After a two week break from games, the Connacht squad are looking forward to their trip to Wales to play Scarlets on Sunday 15th February, kick off 12:45.

The Llanelli side are currently in eight place, five points behind sixth-placed Connacht and having beaten Scarlets 14-8 in Galway in round 9, Pat Lam’s men will be going for a first ever PRO12 season’s double over Welshmen.

In advance of the team announcement on Friday, the Connacht medical team provided the following update.

Michael Swift

Michael Swift fractured his leg in last week’s Eagles game v Ulster Ravens. The 37-year-old is looking at 6 – 8 weeks on the sidelines.

Willie Faloon

Willie Faloon dislocated his shoulder in the Challenge Cup victory over La Rochelle last month. The medical team have reported that the 28-year-old is progressing well since the injury and it is hoped that surgery will not be necessary which further scans and a review with the surgeon next week will determine. If no surgery is required, Faloon is expected to return in time for the Connacht v Treviso game on March 1st.

Craig Ronaldson

Crag Ronaldson has returned to full training following the quad injury he sustained in the warm up prior to the Connacht v Exeter game in January. The outhalf is expected to be available for selection next week when Connacht travel to play Newport Gwent Dragons.

Ian Porter & Scrum half

Scrumhalf Ian Porter returned to training on Monday after recovering from the foot sprain that has kept him out of action for 10 weeks. Porter may be called upon as early as this week as Kieran Marmion remains on international training duty and John Cooney has been recalled to Leinster Rugby this week. Academy scrumhalf Caolin Blade is available for selection.

Returning

Senior players Jake Heenan, Mick Kearney and Tiernan O’Halloran are all available for selection this week after the trio secured game time with the Connacht Eagles in their last two fixtures.

Centre Dave McSharry, who celebrates his 25th birthday today returned to training last week having cleared all concussion protocols. He is also available for selection this week.

SCARLETS v CONNACHT
At Parc y Scarlets, 12.45pm
Live on SC4
Deferred on TG4

Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR 36th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Davies, Martyn Lewis (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: John Charles (WRU)
TMO: Tim Hayes (WRU)

PRO12 Preview

Connacht beat Scarlets 14-8 in Galway in round 9 and are going for a first ever PRO12 season’s double over the Welshmen, however they have not beaten Scarlets on their own soil since a trip to Stradey Park on 9th October 2004.

Scarlets have won just one of their last five contests in the Guinness PRO12: 22-10 at home to Ospreys on 3rd January. Scarlets are unbeaten in their last dozen fixtures at Parc y Scarlets in the PRO12 since Ospreys beat them there 10-6 on Boxing Day 2013. The Welshmen have yet to beat an Irish province in the PRO12 this season, however only one Irish side has been victorious at Parc y Scarlets since December 2012: Leinster in the PRO12 on 6th September 2013.

Connacht’s only victory in their last four Guinness PRO12 encounters was 24-16 at home to Munster on New Year’s Day. Connacht have not won away from home in the PRO12 since beating Benetton Treviso 9-6 at the Stadio Monigo in round 6. The Irishmen have lost on their last three visits to Wales since beating Newport Gwent Dragons 24-8 at Rodney Parade on 23rd March 2014.

is there any reason why Marmion hasn't been released from international duty. with cooney going back to Leinster i would'nt be too keen on us getting a result if either porter or blade are involved.

menacethedenis wrote: Are The Dail showing this one, lads?

Yep, we'll be there from 12, it's being shown on S4C. Huge game, can't wait.

Is Cooney even eligable to play Pro12 with Leinster? Thought weren't allowed play in same comp for two different teams.

swift4prez wrote:

GTTC wrote:

clanman wrote: heenan, kearney and o'halloran back and available for Scarlets game

bad bad news on Swifty he suffered a leg break in the eagles match. does'nt say how long he will be out for,

So that is retirement then??

tweet said, leg BONE break. Id guess that is a bone in his leg and not the main bone?
can he be back in 3months?

Other than the feet, there's not many bones in a leg, and they're all pretty important when it comes to standing up ...
Sure he has another season in him

He can be called back up to a Wednesday on any given week for the rest of season.

GTTC wrote:

clanman wrote: heenan, kearney and o'halloran back and available for Scarlets game

bad bad news on Swifty he suffered a leg break in the eagles match. does'nt say how long he will be out for,

So that is retirement then??

tweet said, leg BONE break. Id guess that is a bone in his leg and not the main bone?
can he be back in 3months?

clanman wrote: heenan, kearney and o'halloran back and available for Scarlets game

bad bad news on Swifty he suffered a leg break in the eagles match. does'nt say how long he will be out for,

So that is retirement then??

Borders no.2 wrote:

swift4prez wrote: Leinster request Cooney's return

Where is this coming from Swift4prez? .

linley mackenzie on twitter

swift4prez wrote: Leinster request Cooney's return

Where is this coming from Swift4prez? Provided its true it really is showing Matt O'Connor up as being particularly petty. Don't know is there some call back clause in his loan contract but either way Cooney's future for the next couple of years at least is with Connacht, only one of Boss or Reddan will be needed during the 6 nations, with Reddan seemingly on the way back from injury and they have Luke McGrath who would be ahead of Cooney and the likes of Nick McCarthy at underage. Leinster have the depth to cope with any international absentees without getting into this unnecessary tug of war.

Leinster request Cooney's return

heenan, kearney and o'halloran back and available for Scarlets game

bad bad news on Swifty he suffered a leg break in the eagles match. does'nt say how long he will be out for,

Are The Dail showing this one, lads?

6 nations is the main item on the agenda next week but this is a game that has been circled for a long time as a vital game in our season, the defeat to Edinburgh heightened its importance further. Obviously Scarlets are slightly affected by the 6 nations with Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Rhys Priestland, Liam Williams, Scott Williams possibly? We will be missing probably just Robbie Henshaw.

Looking forward to this one. Would probably take a losing bonus point at this stage but a win could give us a significant edge in the race for 6th.

Connacht v Llanelli Scarlets – Parc Y Scarlets Guinness Pro 12 Round 14
Sunday 15th February Kick Off 12:45 On TV: S4C

While Round 2 of the 6 nations will have everyone talking during the week ahead, Connacht play Scarlets next Sunday in a game which could have a significant bearing on which European competition Connacht will play in in 2015/16. Connacht edged out the Welsh side at the Sportsground but despite being more affected than Connacht by international absentees, Scarlets unbeaten home record is likely to leave them as favourites to narrow the gap to 6th place with a win.

Other Match Stats
Connacht's win at home to Scarlets in November was Connacht's first win in 6 meetings with the Welsh side
Connacht's last league victory over the Scarlets was a bonus point victory 29-21 in October 2004.
Scarlets have scored an average of 19 points per game in the league this season and conceded an average of 17.7.
Scarlets are unbeaten in the league at home this season. Their only defeats at home came against Northampton in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and against Toulon in the European Champions Cup.
Scarlets have yet to win away from home this season in any competition. Scarlets last away win was against Treviso on the 8th of February 2014 by 41-33.

Scarlets Stats
Website: www.scarlets.co.uk/
Founded: 2003
Ground: Parc Y Scarlets
Capacity: 14,870
Coaches: Wayne Pivac
Captain: Ken Owens

Pro 12 Position 2013/14: 6th P:22 Points:55
Pro 12 Position 2014/15: 8th P:13 Points:28
Heineken Cup 2013/14: 3rd in Pool 4 Points: 11
European Cup: 2014/15: 4th in Pool 3 Points: 8
Anglo-Welsh Cup 2013/14: 3rd in Pool 4 Points 8
Anglo-Welsh Cup 2014/15: 4th in Pool 3 Points 5

Previous Fixtures
Sale Sharks 38-3 Scarlets (Anglo-Welsh Cup)
Scarlets 27-18 London Irish (Anglo-Welsh Cup)
Scarlets 3-26 Toulon (European Cup)
Leicester 40-23 Scarlets (European Cup)
Glasgow 22-7 Scarlets (Pro 12 Round 13)
Scarlets 22-10 Ospreys (Pro 12 Round 12)

Next Fixture:
Saturday 21st February December Scarlets v Munster @ 14.40 @ Parc Y Scarlets

European Rugby Cup Final Standings (Pool 3)
Toulon 22
Leinster 13
Ulster 12
Scarlets 8

Scarlets Ins and Outs 2014/15
Players Ins
Regan King from Clermont Auvergne
Harry Robinson from Cardiff Blues
Peter Edwards from London Welsh
Rory Pitman from Wasps
Chris Hala'ufia from London Irish
Michael Tagicakibau from Saracens

Players Out
Jonathan Davies to Clermont Auvergne
Josh Turnbull to Cardiff Blues
Aled Thomas to Gloucester Rugby
Deacon Manu to Hong Kong Cricket Club (Head Coach)
Sione Timani to Tarbes
Gareth Thomas to Ospreys
Nic Reynolds to London Welsh
Olly Barkley to London Welsh
Gareth Maule to Bristol Rugby

Previous Meetings
Saturday 29th November 2014
Connacht 14-8 Scarlets
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/16158.php

Sunday 30th March 2014
Scarlets 32-30 Connacht
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/14606.php

Saturday 23rd November 2013
Connacht 21-24 Scarlets
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/13442.php