RUGBY:IRELAND INTERNATIONALS Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining thumb injuries in Ulster's defeat to Leinster at the RDS last Saturday night. The pair are expected to have surgery on the damaged digits today and will be sidelined for six weeks.
It is a frustrating legacy for Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin from what proved a disappointing occasion for the visitors to the RDS, but more pertinently it denies the Irish province two key individuals as they bid to make the Magners League play-offs.
Ulster need to win their remaining two matches in the regular season, beginning with Friday night’s game against Connacht at Ravenhill before travelling to face the Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday fortnight.
They will have a clearer picture of how many points the will require following the Cardiff Blues’ game-in-hand against Benetton Treviso tomorrow night.
McLaughlin’s injury problems don’t stop there, as outhalf Ian Humphreys and prop BJ Botha, both of whom retired injured against Leinster, will undergo scans ahead of the Connacht match.
Humphreys suffered some discomfort in his back following a heavy tackle, while Botha picked up a leg injury.
They were included in a 33-man extended squad announced yesterday.
Wallace’s absence means Ian Whitten and a fit-again Darren Cave will be vying for a place alongside Nevin Spence in Ulster’s midfield, while Craig Gilroy, who came on as a replacement against Leinster and scored a smartly-taken try, is a likely deputy for Trimble on the wing.
South African secondrow Johann Muller and Irish prop Tom Court are part of the squad for Friday night in Belfast, having missed out last weekend.
Connacht coach Eric Elwood is awaiting definitive medical reports on a quartet of players ahead of the match.
Michael Swift didn’t train on Monday because of a hand injury, while Miah Nikora is still troubled by a knee problem.
The prognosis is that both could be available.
Scrumhalf Cillian Willis is still troubled by a shoulder injury while number eight Ray Ofisa suffered a leg injury in the defeat by Cardiff at the Sportsground and is considered very doubtful.
Munster coach Tony McGahan has delayed naming a squad for Saturday’s Magners League trip to the Liberty Stadium where they will take on play-off aspirants the Ospreys until tomorrow to further assess not only a couple of injuries but to examine how the province will fulfil two playing commitments: Munster A travel to Moseley for a friendly on Saturday.
There are a couple of injury concerns arising from last weekend’s superb victory over the Scarlets in Wales. Outhalf Declan Cusack is nursing a shoulder injury while Johne Murphy suffered a cut to the inside of his eyelid.
Munster remain optimistic that ankle ligament victim Paul O’Connell might still play some part in the season, although he is unlikely to return before mid May at the earliest.
Finally, Irish supporters will be able to follow the fortunes of the Ireland Schools team in their FIRA AER Championship final against England in Tarbes, France, on Saturday evening (5.30, Irish time).
The match will be shown live on Eurosport 2, which is available on the UPC and Sky platforms.
ULSTER (squad v Connacht): J Cronin, T Court, BJ Botha, P McAllister, B Young, R Best, N Brady, A Kyriacou, R Caldwell, D Tuohy, J Muller, N McComb, T Barker, P Wannenburg, TJ Anderson, W Faloon, C Henry, R Diack, R Pienaar, P Marshall, I Humphreys, N O’Connor, I Whitten, N Spence, D Cave, M McCrea, S Danielli, T Seymour, C Gilroy, C Gaston, J Smith, A D’Arcy.
THURSDAY
Magners League: Cardiff Blues v Benetton Treviso, Cardiff City Stadium (7.05)
FRIDAY
Magners League: Ulster v Connacht, Ravenhill; Edinburgh v Dragons, Murrayfield (7.30); Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets, Firhill (8.05).
SATURDAY
FIRA AER Under-18 Championship Final: Ireland v England, Tarbes (5.30, Irish time)
SATURDAY
Magners League: Aironi v Leinster, Stadio Zaffanella (1.30, Irish time); Ospreys v Munster, Liberty Stadium (6.30). Friendly: Moseley v Munster A, Moseley (3.0).
