Connacht head coach Andy Friend has an injury crisis in his squad ahead of the Champions Cup opener against Montpellier. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Connacht have signed Irish-qualified, Australian back three starlet Will Goddard as short-term cover for injured international full-back Tiernan O'Halloran.

The Brumbies Academy prospect has not played senior rugby for the Super Rugby outfit, but has an opportunity to get European experience while aiming to impress Andy Friend during his loan period.

A highly rated schoolboy, Goddard was approached by the Waikato Chiefs before opting for the Brumbies and, having missed out on the Australia U-20 World Cup squad earlier this year, he is opening up his horizons with the IRFU keen to recruit Irish-qualified players from abroad to boost the player pool. He qualifies to play for Ireland through his grandmother.

Goddard has been signed as full-back cover, but played a lot of underage and club rugby at out-half. He will return to the Brumbies at the turn of the year.

He has not been registered for European action ahead of this weekend, but Friend has added Peter McCabe to the squad after he left Munster for Connacht for the rest of the season.

Connacht's squad is being stretched by injuries ahead of the opener, with second-row a particular problem for the Australian who has lost Sean O'Brien to a shoulder injury for a number of months.

Ultan Dillane's return to fitness is timely, but Gavin Thornbury and Quinn Roux are on the long-term injury list along with back-row Eoin McKeon and full-back Tiernan O'Halloran.

Ireland scrum-half Kieran Marmion is also out, but Niyi Adeolokun is fit to face the French side.

Friend also name-checked Connacht Eagles lock Cormac Daly, who will move to the United States after Christmas, and academy prospect Niall Murray as second-rows who can step up in the coming weeks during a tough schedule.

Connacht host Montpellier this week, before travelling to face Toulouse. Then, they host the Southern Kings in the PRO14, before taking on a strong Gloucester side in the back-to-back European fixtures, with the Christmas inter-provincials following on.

It's a relentless schedule and Friend admitted he may have to prioritise the PRO14 if things get any tighter in his squad.

"At this point in time, we don't. But we may have to make a decision on that, depending on how results and injuries go," he said.

"We know we've got one of the smallest squads, I've got enormous faith in that squad but we need that squad to be fit.

"We've got a few injuries in one key position at the moment. We're going to get those men back in dribs and drabs, Ultan is back this week which is pleasing and we'll just see how these couple of weeks play out."

Montpellier bring a sizeable team to Galway this weekend and, after his team were out-muscled by Leinster last Friday, Friend warned his team against getting involved in trench warfare against the French behemoths.

"They're a very physical side, very large men. We're really aware of that. We've looked a their previous games and know if we get into an arm wrestle we're in strife there," he said.

"So, we're going to avoid that arm wrestle as best we can, we know there's going to be some set-piece battles there and I'd back our scrum to handle that. At maul time again, we'll back ourselves but that's not the area we want to play. We want to move them around a bit and keep them chasing.

"Pro sport is a mental game, isn't it? You can come out of that game against Leinster and can have real doubt if you allow yourselves to.

"You look at it and be factual around what happened out there, challenge it in a positive way as well as calling it as it was and looking at what can we do to be a better side than Montpellier - which is what we've done - you'll get a response.

"I know we're all hurting after the Leinster performance. It's a new week, a new challenge and I guarantee we'll be up for this one."

Online Editors