Carty set to miss upcoming game due to 'nasty' facial injury

Jack Carty looks set to be unavailable for a week or two due to a facial injury he picked up against Ospreys.

INJURY UPDATE: Connacht's Jack Carty looks set to miss a week or two due to a facial laceration picked up in their opening URC clash against Ospreys. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Connacht Rugby's fly half Jack Carty picked up a nasty facial laceration in their United Rugby Championship clash against the Osprey's on Saturday. Carty came on as a replacement for Andrew Smith in the 63 minute but the replacement was reversed in the 74 minute after Carty picked up the injury that is likely to see him miss a couple of weeks of action.

Head Coach Pete Wilkins was speaking today and gave an update on Carty's injury. "Jack Carty obviously had that nasty facial laceration. He went off to hospital on Saturday evening and got that fixed up so there’s a good chance he’ll miss a week or two. 

"But we will have him assessed over the next couple of days and get a definite on that. He’s probably the only major concern coming out of that game". 

Wilkins also gave an update on Mack Hansen who picked up an ankle injury in the New Zealand game which saw him leave the field of play. 

"The calf is fine, he rolled an ankle actually at the end of that game or the end of his participation in that game. That was what brought him off the field. 

"He might need a couple of weeks rehab around that. He’s obviously got his allocated leave time now as well, all of those international guys have three weeks break so they’re into week two of that now. 

"He’ll start on that rehab get a head start on it and we will manage that over the next month as he goes".

Wilkins is looking forward to getting the Irish internationals back into the squad with Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Hansen all currently on a much deserved break after their World Cup endeavours. 

"I’ve spoken to all three of them and we had a good chat around were they are at physically, were they are at mentally and obviously what the next couple of months look like for us as a team here as well.

"I think the great thing is all three are desperate to get back and play as quickly as possible. For them there’s obviously the disappointment everything that came with that World Cup campaign but at the same time I think they will realise that once they’ve had a bit of a break, which they're obviously in the middle of now, then you know the best way I suppose of moving ahead is to get playing again.

"That’s great news for us I think as well they recognise the excitement that’s around the place at the moment in terms of what Connacht are doing and they are desperate to play their part in that as well.  

"When their bodies are good to go I think the minds will be good to go and will look forward to having them back".

Connacht got off to a winning start with five points on the board. After an impressive first half where they lead at half time by 27-5. Ospreys came into the game in the second half with Connacht responding to score the try bonus point and stopping the visitors for gaining any bonus points.

Wilkins was happy with his side's performance but there is work to do 

"It was very pleasing.  I said to the coaches this morning, also the same thing to the players when we meet at lunchtime but I think it’s super important for us to win and it was super important not just for us to to get a bonus point win at home in front of obviously our fans but also in that first half to at least show some glimpses of what we want to be about this season.

"It wasn’t perfect by any means but I think there were enough snapshots of what we trying to do in attack, some really good defensive sets and penalties won and some real balance around the set piece.

"As well that there was enough there to show our supporters and the outside world  how we want to play this year. So that will only get better and we’ll keep developing that and build that over the weeks to come".

Connacht are at home again this weekend and will look to continue their winning start when the welcome Glasgow to the Sportsgrounds on Saturday.