Great opportunity for SOL and Conor McKeon.

Could have sworn the squad update was in the match thread but I can't see it.

Anyhoo - AJ 4 weeks, Craig another 2 weeks, Carty return to contact training 2 weeks if surgeon signs off (so Quins semi or Treviso at best it would seem), White concussion RTP, Heenan under observation, Dillane back.

And Conor McKeon is likely backup for SOL, he's been added to the EPCR squad.

When are we likely to hear about the injury list ? McGinty a big loss but O'Leary did really well when he came on. Presume it will be O'Leary with Porter as a back-up or.....?

We might get a look at Boshoff on Friday if Jantjies isn't able to shake off this injury...

www.rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby...ut-hope-for-jantjies

As regards the Leinster academy, I think some of the criticism is unwarranted. The reality is there are more players being developed in Leinster than Leinster Rugby can give contracts to. We, along with others, are benefitting from that. Don't forget that even the likes of Denis Buckley developed in the Leinster School game.

wp_rathead wrote:

Darragh wrote: Has there been any talk of who is coming into the academy next year and of those in the academy who are being let go or given new contracts?

must be make or break time for a few of them?

The following lads are finishing Year 3 in academy and not sure what the craic is: Jamie Dever, Saba, Rory Moloney. Jabob Walshe

Am I correct in saying that none of them have made any significant impact into the senior match day squads yet?

Doesn't sound too encouraging really, given the faster rise of other academy lads.

Darragh wrote: Has there been any talk of who is coming into the academy next year and of those in the academy who are being let go or given new contracts?

must be make or break time for a few of them?

Sean O'Brien, Peter Robb, Rory Parata, James Connolly and Shane Delahunt all have contracts from the academy (Robb was only year 2 academy aswell)

The following lads are finishing Year 3 in academy and not sure what the craic is: Jamie Dever, Saba, Rory Moloney. Jabob Walshe

I'd guess Gallagher, Claffey and Kerins will be given an academy following their performances for Irish u20's - probably Kenny aswell

If AJ is moving on to Sale rather than the new league in the U.S. that is much better news for him and ultimately the U.S. It's a shame that he couldn't stay on at Connacht but I'm getting the feeling that he wasn't contacted by Connacht until after Boshoff couldn't come here this season and therefore AJ was only contracted until Boshoff's arrival. I wouldn't give out too much to the Leinster Academy. Deciding who will be a successful pro is not an exact science and with the number of players at their disposal if a player doesn't show signs of working out in short order they can cast them aside. Though it is curious that the U.S. was able recognise his potential when all of Ireland missed it.

I'm a bit more concerned about the present situation at outhalf. Some big games coming up and it sounds like Connacht are down to their 4th choice outhalf. Shane did a fine job in a very pressurised situation but even if he can manage to keep it up against Ulster and maybe even Grenoble who is his backup? Porter? Blade? If this run has to end I hope it's because the other team outplayed Connacht not because they ran out of men.

Has there been any talk of who is coming into the academy next year and of those in the academy who are being let go or given new contracts?

must be make or break time for a few of them?

That's the big problem with the schools to academy career path, its only picking players based on a snapshot of their capability. Yes there are players who obviously impress at schools level and deserve to be picked but there are a lot of players who are either somewhat more injury prone, late developers, haven't found their best position yet, etc who can still make great rugby players.

Its great for us that Leinster have not addressed this failing in their system as we've obviously been hoovering up quality players in the last few years; off the top of my head AJ, Niyi, Healy, Masterson, Ronaldson, Robb are all players who missed out on an academy contract initially, and Aly could be included as a player who came to the game late through unconventional channels.

It shouldn't be so hard to put in place a type of monitoring system that allows the provinces to pick up players a couple of years after school when they've shown progress, or continue to bring players into training camps on a part time basis like they do at underage level, but it would perhaps undermine the purpose of the academy system if the provinces allowed players to go into the AIL or abroad for a couple of years before getting a call up.

Darragh wrote: No surprise really. The man deserves secure footy. It is a precarious career really.

Such a shame he is lost to the Ireland system really as the man has plenty of talent. I am a big fan.

I wish him the very best.

Yep agreed, from what I saw of him at RWC15 I was amazed he'd missed the provincial setups and delighted that he was available for us. There's more than a hint of Steenson (slightly more physical version) about him, and that's meant as a compliment...

I think it's a real shame that we are losing an "Irish" player because of who he plays his international rugby for.
He can be added to the list of players along with the likes of Eoghan Masterson and Matt Healy who have been failed by the Leinster academy system and in a broader sense the IRFU. It is a testament to him as a player that he has even made it to Connacht when you consider he had only played at an amateur level before this move.
I feel like his ability to attack the gain line, accelerate through gaps and brave defense would have offered us a real alternative to jack carty and by all accounts marnitz boshoff next season, who are much more comfortable with sitting deeper in the pocket and kicking rather than taking the ball into contact.
I am still hoping he stays but I expect him to leave and in that case I hope his next move works out for him.

No surprise really. The man deserves secure footy. It is a precarious career really.

Such a shame he is lost to the Ireland system really as the man has plenty of talent. I am a big fan.

I wish him the very best.

The eggchasers rugby podcast is saying that AJ McGinty is heading to Sale Sharks next season. Not too surprising he's moving I suppose, we did sign Boshoff. If you want to hear them talk Connacht it 39 mins in on their latest pod

salmson wrote:

sligsup wrote: As far as I remember Pinky around the time of the injury it was he was expected to be out for the season- I may be wrong but I think that is what I recall.

Bang on unfortunately, that's what Linley and Dave Finn reported on twitter when the injury happened mid-January.

Ah yes, sorry, he came back from the Cardiff injury but did his wrist against Doncaster. Makes sense now.

sligsup wrote: As far as I remember Pinky around the time of the injury it was he was expected to be out for the season- I may be wrong but I think that is what I recall.

Bang on unfortunately, that's what Linley and Dave Finn reported on twitter when the injury happened mid-January.