Two key players in Connacht’s win over Pau, Jarrad Butler and Shayne Bolton, will be missing from action for this week’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Benetton in Italy.
Jarrad Butler (head) is undergoing return to play protocols while right wing Shane Bolton suffered a thigh injury.
Also out of action are Jack Aungier (neck), Sean Jansen (groin) and Oisín Dowling (ankle) who are targeting a return for Zebre on April 20th. Byron Ralston (ankle) and Mack Hansen (shoulder) are looking ahead to the Dragons game at the end of April.
However, both Michael McDonald (foot) and Diarmuid Kilgallen (shoulder) underwent surgery last week. Scrumhalf McDonald could be ready for selection by late May, also Santiago Cordero (knee), but Kilgallen will miss the rest of the season.
Despite inconsistent results in the URC, Connacht now head to Italy with “both momentum and confidence,” having delivered a hard-fought 30-40 win over Pau on Sunday, according to head coach Pete Wilkins.
“We have been working hard on the things we have learned about ourselves from some of those defeats, but at some point you have got to turn the dial and see that reflected on the scoreboard,” he said.
“So in terms of our growth as a team, I think in terms of trying to make a statement that we are not just a team that loses and learns, [it was] incredibly important.”
Now with a quick turnaround, Wilkins says the “work ethic doesn’t relent, but the bodies are being looked after.”
“An enormous effort went in, an enormous amount of physicality, but considering that, the boys have pulled up really well.
“With yesterday to recover from the travel and a light training today, they are easing into the week. I think the hard work comes off the field in terms of preparing around the plays and the threats of Benetton that we have looked at recently.”
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