Team for tomorrow has been named

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-team-to-face-munster-5/

yeah but some good news among bad ones

Lam needs to pair Bundee Aki with someone in midfield. Danie Poolman looks the likeliest to play but Lam says Dave McSharry and Craig Ronaldson are not too far away from returns.

'You have young Rory Parata,' Lam added. 'He has played very well in both pre-season games.'

Heenan starred for Connacht in his debut season but was plagued with shoulder issues over the past year. Lam expects him to return to the pitch in November but has been impressed with new back-row addition Nepia Fox-Matamua.

Irish Times today:

Meanwhile, Connacht must plan without new signing Api Pewhaurangi and winger Niyi Adeolokun for the opening weeks, potentially months, of the upcoming season after both players sustained serious knee injuries.
‘Major blow’
“That was a major blow,” conceded head coach Pat Lam. “Niyi in the [Grenoble] game and Api has done his knee as well [against Castres]. It doesn’t look good for both of them. They are both seeing surgeons.”

Pewhaurangi, a 23-year-old outhalf and centre from Palmerstown North has been capped for Ireland in Rugby League.

Yup, wanted a bit of maturity in the squad.

Shelflife wrote: What days and times do the team train at in the sport grounds ?

Did you get the call up? Togging out

What days and times do the team train at in the sport grounds ?

After rushing him back early last season and paying the price I think its wise to be cautious. If there was a choice between 2 months now and 2 months at the end of the season, versus 4 months as an unbroken spell, I'd pick the latter. Plus its nice to be able to give some of the academy guys some exposure at the start of the season.

RonanL wrote: Heenan out til November? Was this expected? I know he's done well in the games he has played for us, but there's just been far too few of those. Very frustrating. He must have the patience of a saint.

Second on Heenan. Showed such promise and I'm sure he'll come good for us if he gets on the field, but right now the return on investment isn't looking too good.

Just had a look at the injury update article. Thought it was funny they had to state that Jake would be back in November of this year.

Heenan out til November? Was this expected? I know he's done well in the games he has played for us, but there's just been far too few of those. Very frustrating. He must have the patience of a saint.

salmson wrote:

connachta wrote:
30 man squad for France to be announced today also, guess that'll answer your second question.

I know but I can't wait :whistle:

connachta wrote: Two questions

Lough in Oct means who for substitute LH? Cooney (JP), Bealham, Walshe; McCartney?
Heenan absent, but what about our new opensied Fox-Nepia?

Cooney started against Grenoble and pretty much demolished their scrum while he was on. Got caught defensively a few times but it's not like he was the only one.

30 man squad for France to be announced today also, guess that'll answer your second question.

Two questions

Lough in Oct means who for substitute LH? Cooney (JP), Bealham, Walshe; McCartney?
Heenan absent, but what about our new opensied Fox-Nepia?

First injury update of the season: www.connachtrugby.ie/squad-injury-update/#ConnachtNews

Niyi - one week; Quinn/Aly - Munster; JHW - Dragons; Loughs - October; Heenan - November

I'd guess that a lot of Api's training work would have been in that area. As a centre it's core to his game. He probably won't be very effective in his first few games but it won't be a case of him waiting around.

What is the most worrying this year is our capacity to hold the ball in attack. That was already a weakness, and the backline without Henshaw isn't able on the paper to clean the rucks with a 95% effectivness.

Aki didn't engaged to this last season
Carty, TOH Niyi and Healy are too light
Api comes from League, doesn't know what ruck means
For me, there are just Poolman and Leader who'll have to involve themselves closer to the ball carrier, waiting for the forwards to come

Thoughts?

According to official facebook account, Ronaldson's still rehabing