Cordero determined to push on with Connacht while Irish players are away

The 54-time Puma Cordero is set to take on more responsibility.

Connacht's Santiago Cordero. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

A record seven Connacht players may be heading into the extended Irish camp next week but there will be a current senior international left at home for URC duty and Argentine Santiago Cordero can’t get enough game-time after his injury-plagued start to life in Galway.

Capped internationals Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham, Caolin Blade and Cian Prendergast will be joined in Irish squad by former Irish U-20s Cathal Forde and Ben Murphy, who are added as development players in Simon Easterby’s Six Nations squad.

Back in Galway, the 54-time Puma Cordero will take on more responsibility in their absence as Connacht try to revive their URC hopes with clashes against champions Glasgow Warriors, Cardiff and Benetton over the next month or so.

The 31-year old Argentine missed almost all of his first season with Connacht last year and after suffering a knee injury when he collided with a post in his first training session at the Sportsground.

He got back for the last two games of the season, earning a recall from Felipe Contepomi for the summer games against France, Uruguay and Australia, before he crowned his 54th Argentine game in November with his 17th try for his country against Italy.

He said it has taken him time to get back to full tilt after the injury but he played his best game for Connacht in the rout of Lyon last weekend in the Challenge Cup and is hoping to play his part as they complete their pool games with a fourth straight victory in Cardiff this Friday night.

“Honestly, I thought it was going to be like, I’m recovered, I can play now,” said Cordero. “But the truth is it takes longer. It takes a lot of time to feel, or to have that feeling again, as like the knee is 100%. It just takes time.

“And I've been talking to a lot of players, just to get some information because when I came back, it was still weird. Feeling weird and just I didn't think it was 100% right, but it was strong. The knee was very strong.

“I was able to play, but it wasn't 100%, my knee. And everyone was telling me it takes time, the need to settle, just don't worry. And a couple of weeks ago, I just started to feel it is coming along. It's kind of almost there. So I'll just keep on working with that,” said the Buenos Aires native.

He has played 14 games now for Connacht and is hitting full stride. He has started on the wing and at full-back but has no doubt which is his favourite position.

“If I had to choose, I would prefer 15. When I was young, my beginnings were at the back, playing 15. I just think you can get more touches playing 15 than winger some depending on the game sometimes.” 

He and his wife and two young children love living in Galway but he is out of contract in the summer and nothing has been decided yet on his future. Cordero has asked his agent to hold back on talks until he has time to really get a run of good games under his belt and show what he can really do.

“I need to talk to my agent and I think I'm going to have a meeting in the next couple of weeks. But, honestly, I haven't talked to him yet. I have no idea what's going to happen. He talked to me, like, a month ago, and I told him, wait. I just want to start playing good rugby before we have a talk. So I have no clue about what's going to happen in the future,” added Cordero.

Meanwhile, head coach Pete Wilkins has made four changes to the side which hammered Lyon 52-24 last weekend for their final Challenge Cup game against Cardiff in the Arms Park this Friday night.

But the most significant news is the inclusion of out-half JJ Hanrahan on the bench for his first action since suffering an ACL against former club the Dragons last April.

Wilkins has selected a strong side as they try to get the two points which would guarantee home advantage in all three knockout matches to the final, if they got that far. 

Four of the seven included in the extended Irish squad are selected — Cathal Forde and Caolin Blade are the two rested, while Mack Hansen is suspended.

The only change at the back sees Byron Ralston come in for Shane Jennings on the left wing, while up front Josh Murphy replaces the injured Oisin Dowling in the second row. In the back row, Conor Oliver and Paul Boyle come in for Shamus Hurley-Langton and Sean Jansen.

Connacht: S Cordero; C Mullins, P O’Conor, B Aki, B Ralston; J Ioane, B Murphy; P Dooley, D Heffernan, F Bealham; J Murphy, J Joyce; C Prendergast (c), C Oliver, P Boyle. 

Replacements: E de Buitlear, J Duggan, J Aungier, D O’Connor, S Jansen, M Devine, JJ Hanrahan, D Hawkshaw.

Ulster (Champions Cup v Exeter Chiefs):

S Moore; W Kok, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, M Lowry; J Murphy, N Doak; E O’Sullivan, R Herring, S Wilson; I Henderson, C Izuchukwu; J McNabney, N Timoney, D McCann.

Replacements: T Stewart, C Reid, C Barrett, K Treadwell, H Sheridan, J Cooney, J Flannery, R Lyttle.