Connacht are set to be boosted for their trip to Rodney Parade by the return of some of their Ireland stars to the matchday squad for this Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 clash with Dragons (kick-off 5.15pm).
With Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad not playing this weekend, Connacht are in line to benefit as some of their key men return for the trip to Newport.
Scrum-half Kieran Marmion and out-half Jack Carty have been unused by Ireland over the past fortnight, as has second row Quinn Roux, who had a shoulder issue the week of the Six Nations game against Italy.
Hooker Dave Heffernan, tighthead prop Finlay Bealham, and second row Ultan Dillane have all made two replacement appearances for Ireland, while centre Bundee Aki started the win over Italy and the defeat to France.
“We do expect to have some of the Ireland boys back,” said Defence Coach Peter Wilkins. “They’ve all been around this week.
“Bundee hasn’t been training, he’s obviously managing his load on the back of the minutes he has had.
“But Jack has been training with us, Kieran has been training with us and he set a PB this morning on the speed testing, so he’s raring to go.
“Ultan and Quinn are here as well so we’ve got a fair few of them who expect to be available, but we’ll finalise that this evening in terms of exactly who we’re taking to Newport.
“They’ve been around the ground and training and it’s good to have their freshness and excitement back in the fold as well.”
We do expect to have some of the Ireland boys back... They’ve all been around this week...
