CITY TRIBUNE

Connacht head into tough run of interprovincial ties

Published

on

Connacht’s Dave Heffernan and Ultan Dillane try to block the clearance kick of Bristol's Harry Randall in their Champions Cup clash in the Sportsground last Sunday. Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy.

By John Fallon

Connacht will get little time to dwell on their Heineken Champions Cup exit — or, indeed, their Christmas dinner — as they are back in action this Sunday at the Sportsground (7.35pm) when they take on Ulster in the first of three Irish derbies.

They will still have remaining Champions Cup games against Bristol Bears away and Racing 92 at home in January to come, but they are unlikely to be of huge significance as a Challenge Cup spot for finishing in the top eight might now also prove elusive.

And at a time when the GAA, of all bodies, are seriously talking about laying out a proper fixtures calendar for club and county, it should be worth highlighting that, right now, Connacht do not have any PRO14 fixtures scheduled beyond a January 9 home date with Munster.

Covid-19 and whether, or indeed how many, South African teams will enter the league has led to the PRO14 bosses dragging their feet on fixtures, and while there will be games resuming in February, nobody has a clue what the fixture schedule will look like in this professional competition.

Connacht, with four wins from six, are second to Munster in Conference B and a decent return from the three derbies — they are away to Leinster on January 2 — will keep them in contention for whatever format is decided for the second part of the season.

“We’re now out of the Champions Cup,” said Friend after Sunday’s disappointing 27-18 loss to Pat Lam’s Bristol.

“We have put ourselves in a good position in the PRO14, but these inter-pro games become really, really important. We have to make sure that we don’t allow Christmas, or anything else, to get in our way.”

The task facing Connacht in these three derby matches couldn’t be more tough. Leinster have not only won all seven games but have picked up try bonus points in all of them. Ulster have won eight from eight with six bonus points; Munster seven from seven with four bonus points.

A key factor for Connacht will be discipline, but while breaches have tended to be high profile, it’s worth noting that Friend’s men have the best disciplinary record in the league this season with the concession of 60 penalties and three cards.

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

Galway City Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

 

Trending

Exit mobile version