It might be coming a lot earlier than Pat Lam and Connacht would like, but they will get a glimpse of life without Robbie Henshaw after their star back was ruled out for six weeks.
Henshaw fractured his left hand in the last play of the game in Connacht's historic win over Munster, and now faces a period on the sidelines during one of the province's busiest times of the year. Bad news of course but it's not the worst thing in the world for Lam, as Henshaw's international commitments means that he has only played in three of Connacht's ten games this season.
In his absence, Connacht have charged to the top of the Pro12, with Bundee Aki and Craig Ronaldson forming a promising centre partnership. Their play has been so good that Henshaw has been played at fullback for two of those three games. Henshaw is likely to be back in mid-January after missing both Challenge Cup games against Newcastle, as well as inter-pro clashes with Ulster and Leinster.
It will be interesting experience for Henshaw on New Year's Day as he watches on when his current team faces off against his prospective new team.
Connacht should be able to continue their impressive form without Henshaw, with Aki, Ronaldson, O'Halloran, and the rising Parata able to step in comfortably - but the Westerners are losing a lot of players to injury with Denis Buckley, Eoghan Masterson, and Nepia Fox-Matamua joining the long casualty list of Jake Heenan, Tom McCartney, Dave Heffernan, and John Cooney.
