Jack Carty set to join Connacht party late

JACK'S BACK: Jack Carty is set to join Connacht during their two-match tour in South Africa and that he might make his seasonal debut in the third round against the Bulls on Friday week. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins is confident that newly appointed captain Jack Carty will join them during their two-match tour in South Africa and that he might make his seasonal debut in the third round against the Bulls on Friday week.

Carty was not included in the 28-man squad which departed Dublin on Monday afternoon for Qatar on their way to Cape Town where they will meet champions the Stormers on Saturday.

Lock Gavin Thornbury, who captained the side in their dismal 36-10 loss to Ulster on Saturday, and flanker Conor Oliver have also been ruled out, but it’s expected that Carty, who underwent wrist surgery during the summer, will link up with them.

“I think there is a good chance of Jack joining the tour. He won't be available for selection this week and we will see where he's at for the following week.

“He's at that point now where he is just about ready to play, so we will let him continue his rehabilitation this week in Galway, and make a decision at the end of the week. He's tracking well.” 

Meanwhile, Wilkins said there was no mystery surrounding the absence of former Leinster winger Adam Byrne from the travelling party, having also been omitted from the squad which did duty in Belfast on Saturday.

Byrne was one of four players to make the move west from Leinster during the summer. The other three — prop Peter Dooley, replacement out-half David Hawkshaw, and in particular flanker Josh Murphy — showed glimpses on Saturday during their competitive debuts on why Andy Friend and his management team were keen to bring them to the Sportsground.

Byrne, who scored 24 tries in 66 appearances for Leinster and was capped by Ireland against Argentina in 2017, did not feature in the Belfast drubbing and with John Porch, Byron Ralston, Mack Hansen and Oran McNulty travelling to South Africa, 26-year old Byrne will have to wait until at least the first home game against Munster next month to make his bow.

“No big story really,” added Wilkins. “I think we have got real improved depth for those back-three players now. Adam has done a good job through pre-season and he will get plenty of opportunities this year, but for this two-game block and the travel that's involved, we picked a group with, certainly we think quality in it, but also a bit of utility value as well.

“Adam will train hard back in Galway with some of those other guys. We will see him pretty soon.”

CONNACHT v Stormers 

Forwards: J Aungier, F Bealham, C Booth, P Boyle, D Buckley, J Butler, P Dooley, O Dowling, L Fifita, D Heffernan, S Hurley-Langton, S Illo, J Murphy, N Murray, C Prendergast, G Stewart, D Tierney-Martin. Backs: B Aki, C Blade, T Daly, T Farrell, C Fitzgerald, M Hansen, D Hawkshaw, K Marmion, O McNulty, J Porch, B Ralston.