Just been reading a blog being done by Troy Nathan for the Warriors site, he's doing a Come Dine With Me competition with some of his teammates, visting their gaffs and allowing them to cook for him (good work Mr Nathan - free feeds..)

Troy Nathan wrote: One of the highlights of the weekend was catching my old club Connacht taking on the unbreakable Harlequins. A packed out Sportground on a lovely winter night in Galway the Connacht lads showing unbelievable defence in the second half grinding out a 9-8 victory. Every week my rugby knowledge expands. <strong>Recently it has been explained to me that there are times when in a scrum there’s a tactical move called a ‘soft shoulder’. Apparently this is where the referee sometimes awards you with a free kick due to the opposition packing in to a scrum too quickly. My good looking South African mate and prop Dylan Rogers packed in a scrum in the seventy-eighth minute after coming on as a replacement for Connacht. The call was ‘soft shoulder’ which unfortunately ended up with him pulling his left hamstring (yes props can pull hamstrings), forcing him to miss out on a week in the sun in Spain with me.</strong> Instead he has a week of physio’s and rehabilitation to handle. Unlucky bro, hope you have a speedy recovery!

So bad timing for Dylan, but good timing for us...

I was talking to Rodney after the Quins game and he reckoned 2 weeks would see him right.

just drove past the SG 40 mins ago on the bus and i seen eoin griffin out there with a coach sprinting.
i hope he is not far from a come back and with 2week till cardiff away he might be fit.

from last weeks open training he didnt take part at all.

henry f played good when he was called on in last few games and made great tackles (which we didnt see much of at the start) vs quins.
i think he has copped on that he has to do some extra bits with connacht that he might not with other clubs.

connachtexile wrote: Thanks Salmson. I have faith in Rodgers and lets face it the guy is probably fighting for a contract so I expect a big performance from him. Anyone know how this could affect us Heineken Cup wise? With player registration etc?

ERC HC Rule 2.iv states:

each club may select one additional player during the course of the Pool stages. The nominated additional player will replace a registered member of the club's squad and no club will exceed 38 players at any time during the Pool stages. The de-registered player may return to the squad at a later date during the Pool stages and replace the additional player.

As our squad listing on the ERC website has 39 players listed - including the retired Keith Matthews - it appears we've already used our additional player (Tonetti?).

Our nominated props are:

Ah You (foot injury)
Buckley
Loughney (shoulder)
Maguire
Rogers
Stevens
Wilkinson

Thanks Salmson. I have faith in Rodgers and lets face it the guy is probably fighting for a contract so I expect a big performance from him. Anyone know how this could affect us Heineken Cup wise? With player registration etc?

connachtexile wrote: Ah You and Maguire out? Ouch.

We're gettting thin up front with props especially if Loughney is walking wounded as well. Have never seen Stephens play but someone in another post said he was 31. You'd assume he's had a few years in the AIL and will hopefully be able to do a job is called on.

Loughs is actually out for 4 weeks with a dislocated a/c joint, according to the Irish Times report yesterday (which in turn is based on Tuesday's press conference). Jamie Stephens is indeed 31, plays for Galwegians - www.galwegians.ie/senior/stats/firsts/

No too sure how reliable this is but according to the Galway Advertiser Swift is back but that as good as the news really gets:

Swift’s return should allow George Naoupu to return to the back row, with John Muldoon and Ray Ofisa, if fully fit, joining him. Up front Dylan Rogers has now been elevated to No 1 tighthead option with both Loughney and Ah You unavailable.

They also said that Loughney is out for up to a month with a dislocated shoulder.

Anyone know if the team will be announced today or will it be a last minute job waiting on guys fitness?

Ah You and Maguire out? Ouch.

We're gettting thin up front with props especially if Loughney is walking wounded as well. Have never seen Stephens play but someone in another post said he was 31. You'd assume he's had a few years in the AIL and will hopefully be able to do a job is called on.

His parents were hopeful he would be back for Leinster so let's hope that he makes it for the Aironi game.

jees we're getting tight for players!

That would be mighty. Looked to be moving fairly well going on and off the pitch the last day,as the last time I saw him he could barely walk

Huge boost if we had him back, especially given we'll need to be physically at at our peak when going toe to toe with Aironi.

That would be great news is Swifty came back, a timely boost for the scrum if Loughney is out.

Porterbelly wrote: Grace had a broken nose, could be back for the weekend though

Would have no qualms about throwing in Aaron Conneely or Dave Heffernan at 7

Ofisa, Browne and Swifty will all be out til February

Met Swifty after Leinster match. He said he'd be back next weekend. Fingers crossed!

Grace had a broken nose, could be back for the weekend though

Would have no qualms about throwing in Aaron Conneely or Dave Heffernan at 7

Ofisa, Browne and Swifty will all be out til February

Was saying it from the start if we would see much from Maguire at all this season. Chance for Jamie Staphens it looks like so, very unlucky with injuries alright. Is Grace definitely injured? TJ Anderson will come in for JO'C on a straight swap so if hes fit.

Browne back in February seemingly. Any word on Ray? Could do with him now that Johnny is out for a while

rodney out for 6weeks with a sore muscle on bottom of his foot. the nicest guy i have ever talked to.