Who was, to be fair to MM, the only guy who started all of our opening six games. Everyone else missed at least once. Think it was more down to rushing back from a groin injury. That said, Cave and Trimble did five, and are fine. And Cave's one of the most ****le prone players in the squad. But going through the squad
1 - Paddy Mac injured for entire season during pre-season. Fair rotation between Court and Black.
2 - *touches wood* Herring and Best rotated a lot, bit of Brady and Annett too
3 - Macklin starts pre-season injured, returns, season ender not soon afterwards. Deccie Fitz, never fit never will be. Afoa fit throughout, given a prolonged rest during 6N.
4 - Stevenson injures himself before he can be rotated. Tuohy does his calf before he can be rotated. Neil McComb's a happy man!
5 - Muller injures himself about three games in, comes back, breaks his arm...
6 - Fez injures himself before he can be rotated - I thought Diack was fine? Him and Hendo rotated a lot, Hendo spends a lot of time in Ireland camps sat on arse, then he breaks himself last game.
7 - Doyle starts season, Henry comes back, Doyle breaks legs playing AIL, Henry plays most of it with some rotation with McComish, ligament damage playing for Ireland for Henry.
8 - Wilson starts season injury, Williams does his ribs just as he comes back - that's about 4, 5 games in - Wilson and Williams both injure themselves again at about the same time after a fair bit of rotating.
9 - Mainly Pienaar, is injured by enthusiastic clearing out by an Italian.
10 - Jackson injured after first game, plays pretty much when available - despite ankle injury - only rested after end of HEC due to NOC being NOC, fine since.
11 - Allen injures himself briefly, Trimble is fine, bit of rotation.
12 - Marshall injures himself twice and concusses himself twice - but he and Wallace have mainly rotated when available, before Wallace busts his leg playing
13 - Cave's best season for injuries yet! Farrell injures himself for entire season first match. RIP Nev.
14 - Bowe starts season injured, takes over from Gilroy then picks up a big one in a game, Gilroy's been well rested but picks up groin strain playing for Ireland
15 - Payne injures his groin, then comes back too quickly. D'Arcy starts season injured, comes back, injures himself again. Nelson injures his knee in AIL iirc.
I think that is the tale of our season. Not many ****les - Payne, Tuohy's calf maybe, Gilroy's groin (stop shagging Miss NI Craig). That's about it. Suppose the Ginger Prince's ankle, but he plays through that. The rest? We've been cursed, absolutely cursed, most impact injuries then seems credible. Part of me thinks it's the new intensity Anscombe wants, just racking up a casualty count. Part of me think its might be Nev's memory, they're really going for it this season but the harder you hit the more you get hurt. Most of me thinks this season is cursed and I kinda just want it over tbh - ideally with a trophy, but if not so be it. Lack of rotation? I looked at the team sheets again, we've kept things moving, Anscombe made a big thing of playing for places early season - and really, most people have broken before they could be rotated!
I would say fingers crossed it's lifting at just the right moment (ok a bit late) but bloody hell, Henderson getting injured was just a massive kick to the teeth.