ULSTER HAVE ISSUED a lengthy injury list following their bruising 17-15 Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Saracens at Ravenhill on Saturday evening.
Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, who battled on until the 49th minute despite sustaining a shoulder injury in the first half, will miss at least six weeks of action after medical tests confirmed the reoccurance of an AC joint problem.
Rory Best was forced off the pitch as early as the 12th minute against Sarries, with the province revealing that the Ireland hooker picked up a “significant ankle sprain” and will miss six to eight weeks.
Lock Dan Tuohy and back row Roger Wilson both suffered fractured bones on Saturday, in the hand and thumb respectively. Tuohy will undergo a surgical procedure this week, and both players will be sidelined until May.
Andrew Trimble, who was replaced by Craig Gilroy in the 64th minute, has been confirmed as sustaining a concussion. The right wing must now complete the IRB’s return-to-play protocols.
Finally, tighthead prop John Afoa picked up a disk injury and will definitely miss Friday night’s Pro12 clash with Connacht at Ravenhill.
Anscombe’s side are currently third in the league, with four regular season fixtures remaning [Connacht at home, Glasgow away, Leinster at home and Munster away.]
The loss of these key players for much of that run-in is an obvious blow to the province’s hopes of securing a home semi-final on the weekend of 16/17/18 May.
