Swift to miss out

Linley MacKenzie

Tue, Dec 06, 2011

HEINEKEN CUP: CONNACHT WILL be without lock Michael Swift for Saturday’s Pool Six fixture with Gloucester. The province’s most capped player is expected to be out for at least three weeks after injuring his knee during the 13-15 loss to Treviso last Friday night.

Swift was due to have a scan yesterday evening to assess the full extent of the ligament damage, but Connacht will welcome the return of his secondrow partner Mike McCarthy after serving a two-week suspension for a dangerous tackle on Toulouse’s Vincent Clerc in round two.

Although John Muldoon, Frank Murphy, Dylan Rogers, and Kyle Tonetti did not train yesterday, all are expected to be fit, while centre Eoin Griffin is hopeful of coming through today’s training session after his two-week absence with a hamstring injury.

Griffin and fellow midfield tyro David McSharry have signed two-year contract extensions this week.

Griffin, a product of Galway’s Coláiste Iognáid, and McSharry, who came to Connacht from UCD as a development player this season, have agreed deals that will take them through to 2014.

“It is people like these guys we want to build our team around,” said coach Eric Elwood.

© 2011 The Irish Times

Ok Thought I would get the ball rolling with this. According to the irish times Swifty is out. Thank christ Macca is back. Looks like a Macca and George second row is what Eric will go for. It has potential and is very physical.

I know other may not have been but i have been a fan of George in the row. He is not doing it in backrow. Second rows are becoming more like back rows these days so hopefully he will do a job this weekend if called.

Any thought on who peopl would like to see on the pitch?