CONNACHT COACH PAT Lam says he is delighted his son, Mitch, decided to join up with the squad as cover for the out-half position.
Marquee signing, Springbok Marnitz Boshoff, joins up with Connacht at the end of this week, but the reigning Pro12 champions have been light on No 10s in the first few rounds of the league and Europe.
Mitch Lam made his debut for the Connacht Eagles in their 23-10 defeat at the hands of Cornish Pirates in the B&I Cup last Sunday.
He had been training with the Connacht squad and played Ulster Bank League rugby for Galwegians prior to that. And coach Lam is pleased with what he saw from his son after he wasn’t keen to join up.
“He did well. He came over here as a favour to dad – he was in Auckland – because we were light on 10s,” said Pat Lam.
“I just needed him to be there covering and helping Galwegians. And just in case, for all of these games until Marnitz arrives this week, we have only had two 10s. Craig Ronaldson has only just got back, so we needed someone.
“He wasn’t initially keen to come but I’m glad he came. He has enjoyed being over here. It was good last Sunday, he did well.”
Connacht clash with Zebre in the Champions Cup on Sunday as they look to make it back-to-back victories in Pool 2.
They begin their journey to Parma on Friday. And prior to that Lam, and some of his management team and senior players, will pay their respects at the funeral of Anthony Foley in Killaloe.
Irish lock Quinn Roux (concussion) will be reintegrated into training this week ahead of the game. Centre Peter Robb (hip) is also back on the training pitch this week, while centre Eoin Griffin is following the return to play protocol after being concussed playing for the Connacht Eagles.
But Ireland full-back Tiernan O’Halloran (knee) will miss the game in Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi after he hobbled off in the 23-21 victory over Toulouse last Saturday.
“The most important thing is it doesn’t look as bad as initially thought, so hopefully he will be right for Leinster.
“But it’s just part of the job. Very rarely anyone will go throughout the season without at least one week of being injured.
“He has been playing really well. Across the board, some games weren’t as good as others, but the thing I like about Tiernan is he has got real maturity and experience.
“He is in the leadership group. He gets pretty hard on himself if he doesn’t get things right but he turns it around because he does the work in training.
“It’s important for everybody in our squad to be training well. It’s the same thing that Irish Rugby needs at that level.
“You have got four provinces, you have got all of these players. If all of them are playing well it’s good for Irish rugby. That’s the way it should always work and that’s over to the players.”
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