Bonus point away victory keeps Lam’s charges at top of charts

Edinburgh 23

Connacht 28

IT might well be time for those of us who follow Connacht rugby to take a moment and reboot the mind so as to approach the final few games with a new mindset.

It’s not going to be easy as the mesmerising offloads, multiple linebreaks, tries from every angle and results that break record after record are literally jaw dropping at this stage.

This team are going to be in a new world of trophy contenders for the next couple of months and it’s important we don’t all look like lost tourists.

The latest chapter in Scotland’s capital on Friday night turned out to be another barnstorming display from the most energetic, creative and eye catching side in the Pro12 this season. They are league leaders because of this, more tries, quite probably more defenders beaten and more offloads than any side in the league. A better brand of rugby than anything any side is producing and it all adds up to a record breaking run for Connacht.

Everyone knows what’s around the corner. After a two week break, Pat Lam’s side return to action on Easter Saturday to face Leinster in what is sure to be a top of the table clash now – whatever happens with the game in hand the men in blue play in Glasgow on March 18. That will be the start of a monumentally challenging run of inter-provincial games with a European Quarter Final in the mix too.

Most followers of Connacht rugby have held back on their targets for this side as a result of the Six Nations and World Cup disruptions this season. In Pro12 games where Connacht have faced full strength sides unaffected by international call ups, the record is two wins (over Edinburgh home and Munster away) and four defeats (away to Cardiff, Leinster and Llanelli and at home to Ulster).

That trend is worth considering too in terms of providing context and caution for what lies ahead and it has been doing that for most of the spring. However, a run of five straight wins and 24 points from a possible 25 is making most followers check themselves and ask, why worry about what’s to come? Their side is fully equipped, focused and more than capable of rising to the challenges that are on the horizon. Heck the aforementioned four defeats were all tight games that could have gone either way in dreadful weather.

So what are the stakes? Well the pot is enormous. The bookies will confirm that Connacht have a legitimate shot at two trophies this season. They’ve never won any silverware remember. Second favourites for the Pro12, by a whisker behind Leinster while they are outsiders in the Challenge Cup for now, but that could all change with a win in Grenoble. Also, don’t forget, they are now all but guaranteed to qualify for the Champions Cup next year. That’s actually become an afterthought.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.