Connacht look set to welcome Finlay Bealham back to their squad for Saturday's visit of the Sharks to Galway.
The Ireland international has been part of the province’s training this week, with head coach Pete Wilkins revealing he’s on track to be involved for the BKT United Rugby Championship Round 2 meeting with the South Africans.
The province were able to call upon back row Cian Prendergast, hooker Dave Heffernan and scrum-half Caolin Blade for last weekend’s opening league game away to Munster, with Bealham and Bundee Aki the two remaining Connacht men that toured South Africa with Ireland in the summer.
Aki’s return looks more likely in the Round 3 trip to Scarlets next week, but Bealham is on track to come into the squad this weekend, with tighthead Jack Aungier unavailable due to his commitments with Emerging Ireland.
There was mixed injury news for the province after their defeat to Munster on Saturday, with second row Joe Joyce unlikely to be available to take on the Sharks this weekend, after suffering a shoulder injury which will require further assessment.
There was good news for Santiago Cordero (below), who has trained fully this week despite picking up a knee injury late in the game at Thomond Park. The wing/full-back missed almost all of his first season at Connacht with a ACL tear, but Wilkins says he should be "good to go" for this weekend.
Earlier today the IRFU confirmed that the province’s winger Chay Mullins would join the Emerging Ireland squad on their tour of South Africa later this month, with the former Sevens international replacing his provincial teammate Shayne Bolton, who suffered a laceration on his knee in the first half last weekend.
"We’re desperately sorry Shayne Bolton hasn’t gone on the Emerging Ireland tour, it would have been great recognition," Wilkins said.
"The experience of that environment and that level of rugby would have been beneficial for him and by extension us.
"It will be hugely beneficial for Chay Mullins to have another look at it after being on the tour two years ago and if he plays two or three games it will further fast-track his 15-a-side development and that will ramp up his improvement in that level for us and be a better player for us afterwards."
Connacht picked up two bonus-points from their defeat in Limerick, although there was frustration in the province that they didn’t return from Limerick with the win after what had been an impressive attacking display.
On Saturday, they welcome the Sharks to Galway, with the South Africans fresh off the back of winning the Currie Cup last weekend.
And Wilkins (above) believes his side have to learn how to back up a big performance week on week.
"The praise is deserved for going away and scoring five tries, having that intensity of performance. I’m pleased with that recognition.
"Also that energy and that physicality and that intensity for the 80 minutes is something we certainly need to improve from the previous season, and we’re looking to better across this year. So I was heartened by that. It gives us a good platform, but there are rugby aspects that need to improve and need polishing as you would expect from round one.
"It’s a shame that those cost us the opportunity of a good win, particularly in the context of who we were playing and where. So we’ll continue to keep improving from that.
"The big test for me is this week against the Sharks. We’ve shown in the past we can deliver the intense and emotional performances against Interprovincial opponents. But then it is the following week that’s raised questions about our consistency. And I’ve been really open with you guys about that because I’ve been really open with the squad about it too.
"It was a huge test for us away in Thomond Park obviously, but this is an even bigger test for us this week.
"It’s not just a dangerous Sharks team coming to us who have already won the Currie Cup in pre-season, they are battle-hardened, but it’s the week after an Interpro, and a good performance in an Interpro, despite the result.
"So this is the one that really interests me and the one that really excites me," he added.
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