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.