CONNACHT’S FOUR IRISH internationals may be held back for the Christmas derby games and not feature over the next two weekends in Europe.
Mack Hansen, Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Cian Prendergast have been given this week off after the Autumn internationals and will not feature against Zebre at Dexcom Stadium when Connacht open their Challenge Cup campaign.
Connacht are in Europe’s second tier competition after failing to finish in the top half of last season’s URC and with a home league clash against Leinster coming five days after their second Challenge Cup game in France, the Irish players may not play away to Perpignan on Sunday week.
“They’ll have this week as a down week to recover from that international window, and we expect them back to train with us the following week,” said Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins.
“We’ll ramp them back up to playing, whether that’s Perpignan or whether that’s for Leinster the following week, we’ll treat each one individually.”
Lock Joe Joyce and winger Shayne Bolton are set to miss Saturday’s clash after picking up foot injuries in the URC home loss to the Bulls last weekend, while out-half Josh Ioane is not expected back from injury until the festive derbies.
Wilkins said they were taking the Challenge Cup seriously this season but that it was also an opportunity to give fringe players an opportunity to impress.
“Certainly, it is a good time to get some minutes into players that have been banging on the door, but through consistency of selection haven’t had an opportunity in the URC.
“It is also a good opportunity to reward a couple of the younger guys who really impressed us so far through pre-season, the early part of the season. That said, I don’t think there’ll be too much change, certainly not this week,” he added.
I just don’t get this. All the South Africans were back playing for their clubs the week after playing for their country. Cian Prendergast, the Connacht captain mind, didn’t feature at all. Conor Murray the same in Munster. Just wondering if our Irish panel of 45 players are a bit precious ?
@Pat Cooney: Ireland played a 4 games. South Africa only had to play 3. So a lot of there players had all of last week off and they can also afford to do as they have a lot better strength in depth than us having used something like 52 players in total in the last couple of months. Where as Bealham and Hansen started in every game this Autumn Int.
@Harry O’ Callaghan: on the other hand though, South Africa were also coming off the Rugby Championship.
@teuO6nLS: No, they used a lot of new players throughout that tournament and it was spaced out. We haven’t used anywhere close to 52 players this year and last year. They have the luxury of resting their big game players like Etzebeth, Kolisi, Pollard, Kriel, Kolbe, Le Roux because they have tow or three players practically as good in that position. We don’t unfortunately. We rely on keeping momentum with a core player group of around 25. Prendergast should definitely play for Connacht as he’s only played 15th a of rugby in the last 4 weeks. Bealham, Aki and Hansen definitely deserve a rest especially Bealham as his mental fatigue was obviously showing when he knocked the ball on 3 times and gave away a penalty in the opening quarter against Australia.
@Pat Cooney: They weren’t released back to their clubs. At least they’ve got plenty of rugby under their belts. Izzy is about to turn 25, has the grand total of 11 starts for Ulster and was also sat on his hole.
Makes sense, i think the IRFU would probably want to rest other players like Doris, VDF and Porter
@Owen ODonoghue: it’ll be left up to the clubs. Play them now but rest them over Xmas or rest them now but play them over Xmas. It’s been like that the past two years that they have to get two consecutive weeks off