Connacht finally get to hit big time in Heineken Cup

Date Published: {J}

STEPHEN GLENNON

CONNACHT take their historic first step into Heineken Cup rugby when they face familiar foes and English Premiership leaders Harlequins in the opening round of the prestigious competition at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday evening (8pm).

It is a massive night for the province and an even bigger test of their credentials, but Connacht coach Eric Elwood was in buoyant mood this week, stating that both the coaching staff and players were ready to embrace Heineken Cup rugby.

He readily admits, however, that he is under no illusions, acknowledging that if his side make the same mistakes as they made in recent Rabo league defeats, in particular to Cardiff and Ulster, then the punishment handed out by the top sides in Europe will be far more severe than anything they have experienced to date.

“So, we are under no illusions,” reiterates Elwood. “If you have a three minute 40 second slip up in the Rabo [as against Cardiff Blues], you are going to get punished. You don’t want to have the same slip up or lack of intensity any time because you are playing against out-and-out quality internationals and they are going to punish you.

“We know the quality of the teams we are playing against. We are playing Harlequins, who are top of the Premiership; we are playing against Toulouse, who are top of the French championship; and we are playing against Gloucester, who are fourth [in the English league] and have a proud tradition as a rugby team as well.

“So, it is important for us to realise that to be competitive we have to be at our best for the 80 minutes, maintain our concentration levels and maintain our intensity levels. That is what is required by any team playing in Europe. While this is our first time in the Heineken Cup, they are the challenges ahead of us. They are just the facts. We understand that it is going to be difficult.”

In many respects, under the present circumstances, the Westerners couldn’t have asked for a more tricky assignment. Yes, when these two sides last met in the Amlin Challenge Cup last December, Connacht gave as could as they got – losing their opener at the Stoop on a respectable scoreline of 20-9 before narrowly going down 9-15 at home in their subsequent meeting a week later – but the landscape for both clubs has changed much since.

For one, Connacht have lost a number of the key figures from 12 months ago, including the influential quartet of Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan, Fionn Carr and Ian Keatley, all of whom, you could argue, have not been adequately replaced. Furthermore,Andrew Browne and Keith Matthews are long-term injuries; Johnny O’Connor is out for four weeks with a calf injury; and Michael Swift sustained ligament damage to his knee against Ulster last Saturday evening.

Secondly, Harlequins – who won the Amlin Challenge Cup with a dramatic final victory over Stade Francais in May – have carried this momentum into their current campaign and boast 10 wins out of 10 games in all competitions this season. Eight of those have been secured in the Premiership to leave them four points ahead of chasers Saracens and 14 points clear of third placed London Irish.

Given that Connacht are coming off a four-game losing streak in the RaboDirect, Elwood’s charges will have to dig deeper than they ever have before if they are to harness the intensity levels required for their debut game in the Heineken Cup. The coach agrees but says one characteristic Connacht players have never fallen down on in his time is heart and commitment.

“That is one thing you can always remark about a Connacht player, and for all the years I have been here that has been a trait of ours and this bunch of players is no different. They have always boxed above their weight. They don’t want for effort and commitment, but, unfortunately, just sometimes there is a lapse in concentration levels or some of the younger guys might make an error.

“Those things are going to happen and it is how we deal with it which is important. However, as regards digging deep, I would never, ever question a guy in a Connacht jersey about that type of commitment in the time I have been here. That is never in doubt as far as I am concerned.”

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