Connacht on cusp of quarter-finals

Date Published: 15-Dec-2009

ALL of a sudden, Connacht are on the cusp of something special. There is much work to be done yet, but Saturday’s forthright victory away to Worcester in the Amlin Challenge Cup has placed the men in green in pole position to top their pool and book themselves a home quarter final in April.

It is four years since the Sportsground has played host to a major European tie like that, so the incentive is obvious.

A second victory over Worcester this Friday is a must to maintain their progress, but even then the job won’t be completed as Montpellier are still lurking in the background ahead of a visit to Galway in January.

But why should either of those ties hold any fears for this current Connacht side? There is now ample evidence to suggest that the province might be about to break free of the shackles which have prohibited significant progress in recent seasons and make a real splash.

Connacht’s previous victory on English soil was way back in 1997 when they famously toppled Northampton under the guidance of Warren Gatland. Twelve years on and the Michael Bradley’s side repeated that feat with some style. The Connacht coach placed it high on his list of achievements with the province.

“It’s way up there,” said Bradley afterwards, “It’s important to put markers down. As far as I am concerned, it’s history in terms of my involvement with Connacht.

The Connacht coach shrugged off suggestions from his counterpart in Worcester, Mike Ruddock, that luck had favoured the western province. He suggested his side were due such breaks and switched the focus onto the officiating.

"We’ve struggled big time in the Magners and to be honest we feel a good deal of that is owing to the refereeing. The French referee today Jerome Garces had no inhibitions in terms of what team could do what. He refereed as he saw it, same as Chris White in Montpellier. On a weekly basis in the Magners League we have to face referees who have a pre-conception of us and that can be frustrating."

As in many of their victories this season, Connacht came from behind to claim the win and showed incredible character throughout. A tremendous combination of scrum and lineout superiority laid the foundation for a memorable victory. Worcester had drawn their previous three games in the Premiership, halting the progress of Bath and league leaders Saracens at home before picking up a well deserved draw away to London Irish.

It was clear they had the pedigree to beat Connacht and they also had the starting XV. They went with their strongest possible side knowing that back to back victories were needed over their Irish opponents if they were to remain in contention. An earlier home loss to Montpellier in the pool had left them in last chance saloon.

The defeat has shifted their focus considerably towards the Premiership now, as even if they were to win their final three games, qualification is unlikely and on Sunday Ruddock declared that he would be ‘freshening up his squad’ for this Friday’s clash with Connacht as their main focus is now on the Boxing Day Premiership clash with Northampton.

Those in the Connacht camp will be determined not to let that change their focus, however. Montpellier remain in contention in the pool having also won at Sixways. To remain in pole position for a home quarter final, a win is needed this weekend against a young Worcester side that will be in no mood to play safe.

Long standing Connacht hero Michael Swift marked the victory with his 162 appearance for the province when he came on as a replacement in the second half, that sees him take over from Eric Elwood as Connacht’s most capped player of all time.

New signing George Nauopu came through the game well and put in a superb defensive display throughout. His towering presence at the base of scrums and rucks could prove a valuable addition to the side in the coming months but his was just one of many high quality individual displays.

For the full match report see page 30 of this week’s Sentinel