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Rugby: Rabo Direct Pro 12

Connacht's preparations for their trip to Aironi for Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro 12 fixture have been dealt a major blow with injuries to three key players.

After the high of last weekend’s first home Heineken Cup fixture, Connacht return to the bread and butter competition of the RaboDirect Pro 12 on Saturday (6.30pm).

After the high of last weekend’s first home Heineken Cup fixture, Connacht return to the bread and butter competition of the RaboDirect Pro 12 on Saturday (6.30pm).

Eric Elwood is counting on the two-week break from Rabo Direct Pro 12 action to give his injured players time to recover before an intensive 13 weeks of competition resumes after the World Cup.

Connacht coach Eric Elwood continues to sweat on the availability of some key players for the first interprovincial of this season’s RaboDirect Pro 12. Elwood is delaying naming his starting XV for Saturday’s clash with Leinster at the RDS (5pm) to allow players as much time as possible to recover. Key players include captain Gavin Duffy (calf), winger Tiernan O’Halloran (hamstring), and Eoin Griffin (hamstring). Also carrying injuries, but expected to recover are Frank Murphy (groin), Henry Fa’afili (hip), TJ Anderson (ribs) and Brian Tuohy. James Loxton, who came on as a replacement in his first Pro 12 game last weekend, is ruled out with a medial strain, joining Keith Matthews, Miah Nikora, and Andrew Browne and George Naoupu

Connacht coach Eric Elwood continues to sweat on the availability of some key players for the first interprovincial of this season’s RaboDirect Pro 12.

Connacht’s biggest season since the game turned professional kicks off on Saturday when the province travels to Italy to face Benetton Treviso in the newly-named Rabo Direct Pro 12 League.

Irish squad member Mike McCarthy returns to Connacht for tomorrow’s final pre-season fixture with English premiership side Saracens in London (6.45pm).

Connacht’s second pre-season friendly takes place today in Dublin when they face an Irish XV packed with players vying for World Cup selection.