Jarrad Butler and Shayne Bolton, two notable contributors in Connacht’s victory over Pau, will be absent from the field for the European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Benetton in Italy this week. Butler is currently following return-to-play procedures after a head injury, while Bolton, the right-wing player, is nursing a thigh injury.
Additional players sidelined for the upcoming game include Jack Aungier (neck), Sean Jansen (groin), and Oisín Dowling (ankle), each of whom are working towards their comeback for the Zebre match on the 20th of April. Byron Ralston (ankle) and Mack Hansen (shoulder) are also on the mend, aiming their sights on the Dragons game at April’s end.
Meanwhile, both Michael McDonald (foot) and Diarmuid Kilgallen (shoulder) went under the knife last week. There is optimism that McDonald, the scrum-half, may be eligible for selection by late May, as is Santiago Cordero (knee). Unfortunately, Kilgallen is expected to sit out the rest of the season.
While the URC may have brought inconsistent results for Connacht, they head to Italy with heightened morale and confidence following their challenging 30-40 triumph over Pau on Sunday. According to head coach Pete Wilkins, the team has been diligently working on strengthening their weaknesses highlighted during previous defeats.
Wilkins emphasises the need to balance their growing performance on the field with a demonstration that they’re more than a team that loses and learns – they are also capable of winning. Going into the new week, the team’s intense work ethic remains, but physical wellbeing is also prioritised.
Following an intense match and subsequent travel recovery, the team is slowly easing into the new week. Wilkins believes off-field hard work is now a priority, with a focus on planning strategies and addressing potential threats from Benetton based on recent analysis.