IT’S CARTY TIME
Jack is fit and firing for run-in after missing the business end last year
CONNACHT out-half Jack Carty is thrilled to be fit and available for the crunch run-in games having missed out on the Pro12 glory march last year.
The 24-year-old Athlone native missed the latter part of last season after a water slide accident in Dubai left him having to have his spleen removed. He battled on and was the 24th man for Connacht’s famous Pro12 win over Leinster in Murrayfield. But he didn’t return to play until the start of this campaign and with 75 Connacht appearances under his belt since his debut in 2012-13 Carty wants to prove a point in the run-in. “I wasn’t playing this time last year. It’s good to be playing towards the business end. The year before we had the play-off game,” said Carty. “It’s just about trying to stay fit and to play week in week out. And trying to train and play well because there is a lot of competition in my spot. “Others can slot in and slot out if you’re not playing well. It’s like that across the board so fellas have to be performing or they won’t make the 23. “It’s going to be a quicker game this weekend. It is a good task. It’s a shame that we don’t play on the 4G surface more because it would suit the way we play.” Connacht have suffered an injury nightmare throughout this season especially at No 10, where Carty and Steve Crosbie have looked to fill the void in recent weeks. Marquee signing, Springbok Marnitz Boshoff, was due to return from injury this weekend, for what would only be his third game for Connacht. But the sudden death of his father, Jopie, back in South Africa means he has had to return home. And it has been a big blow to the team. “It was really good training opposite Marnitz, the fact that he is an international player, and coming back it has provided extra competition. And I have learned a few things off him as well.” said Carty. “But losing a family member you can’t compare to anything to do with rugby. You are obviously gutted for him. It’s terrible what’s after happening to Marnitz. No one can really know what he is going through until they have been in that spot. “All of the boys have been on to him, and obviously he’s still quite upset. We are just trying to help him any way we can. It’s a pretty distressing situation for him.”