The Ulster scrum-half has an interesting, new haircut after receiving a nasty blow at the weekend.
It looked as if nothing was going to stop John Cooney’s momentum this season, then he copped an almighty whack down in Port Elizabeth.
The Ulster and Ireland No.9 was the toast of his province, last weekend, after clinching a win for them over Edinburgh. On Sunday, it was business as usual with Cooney kicking three first-half penalties to put his side 9-0 up. He also made a nice line break and a few more metres on another two snipes.
33 minutes in, however, and Cooney was forced to leave the fray after taking some stray studs to the head. Blood poured from the wound as the former Connacht and Leinster player walked from the field of play, and was replaced by David Shanahan.
Cooney may have been hoping to return for the second half but, such was the extent of the damage, that Shanahan remained on to see the game out.
Ulster claimed another Guinness PRO14 victory after tries from Marcell Coetzee, Angus Kernohan and Angus Curtis made it 28-0. They will play Cheetahs next weekend so the squad enjoyed a down day, today, in P.A.
Cooney will be hoping to feature in that game but Ulster’s medical staff will be keeping a close eye on how that nasty cut is healing up.
It required nine heavy-duty stitches during the game, and an emergency haircut too.
Nasty one for @JCooney09 today 🤕😬 pic.twitter.com/h0KumbFb2X
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) September 16, 2018
There were plenty of rugby fans wishing Cooney well, and for a quick recovery. As for the man himself, ’tis but a scratch he says.
All good, just a flesh wound 😂
— John Cooney (@JCooney09) September 16, 2018
With Conor Murray out on the sidelines for the next few weeks, Joe Schmidt and his coaches will be tracking Cooney’s progress closely as the season wears on.
