Boost for Connacht as injury woes ease ahead of big home clash with Ulster

CONNACHT’S unbeaten home record this season faces its sternest test yet as Ulster roll into town for the first of two festive interprovincial derbies on St Stephen’s Day.

The visitors arrive in Galway in rude health, bursting with confidence after doing the double over Toulouse during the past fortnight’s break for European Cup action.

Tickets sales for what promises to be a ‘Christmas cracker’ have been brisk and a full-house is expected at the Sportsground on Saturday (kick-off 6pm).

Connacht’s injury list remains lengthy but Pat Lam will be unleashing his heavy artillery with some big names returning from injury and set to be named in the starting xv on Christmas Eve.

John Muldoon, Kieran Marmion, Tiernan O’Halloran, Ronan Loughney, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy, James Connolly and AJ MacGinty, who all missed last weekend’s defeat away to Newcastle, are all expected to be available for selection this weekend.

Centre Peter Robb, winger Danie Poolman and hooker Jason Harris-Wright all sustained injuries against Newcastle but will be monitored during the week and could yet pass late fitness tests. Robbie Henshaw remains among the list of injury absentees.

“Ulster deservedly are full of confidence following their two impressive wins over Toulouse. I watched both games and it was an unbelievable performance from them against a quality French side. Ulster are the form Irish team at the moment and we understand the challenge we face with them coming to the Sportsground on Saturday,” said Lam this week.

The head coach said his squad and management would spend Christmas Day with their families and that the analysis and preparation for Ulster was packed into the early half of this week.

Lam said: “You can look at our history against Ulster and only one win in nine seasons but for us, the main priority is to focus on the process of how we are going to beat this Ulster team. Our win over Munster just reinforces the idea of focusing on the process and not the occasion.

“Of course there is emotion after the game because these derby games have an extra bite to them and its neighbours against neighbours so it means that bit more once the job is done. We feel we missed an opportunity against Ulster this time last year at Kingspan Stadium and were extremely disappointed not to put the game away.

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