Connacht plan ahead with acquisition of Kiwi forward White

Date Published: {J}

CONNACHT have begun the process of recruiting for the 2012/13 season and 6’2” Kiwi prop Nathan White seems a prudent addition to the ranks ahead of the campaign.

The former Waikato captain joined Leinster last summer and has played 14 times, including making five Heineken Cup appearances. That’s more than Jamie Hagen has managed since he upped sticks and headed back east.

White’s scrummaging ability was described by Connacht assistant coach Dan McFarland as “exceptional”. He also added: “To have a player with his explosive power around the pitch opens up a huge number of opportunities for us. Nathan’s a proven leader, both on and off the pitch, and I am looking forward to working with him here at Connacht.”

Those who know McFarland, will be well aware that he is the archetypical straight talker and can rest assured that his confidence in White’s scrummaging ability won’t be misplaced. His reference to leadership is also significant.

Connacht arguably have the most promising batch of emerging young front row forwards of any of the provinces with under 20 stars Paul Griffin, Conor Higgins and Jamie Dever merely the starting point in that regard. Those players and more will hopefully be training with White and learning in the coming months and years.

It is no exaggeration to call Saturday evening’s 13-all draw between Connacht and Glasgow a dour affair and certainly the most uninspiring contest of the season to date. These two teams often serve up low pulse rate battles.

Glasgow coach Sean Lineen likes to blame the men in green for this but Eric Elwood was quick to point out post game that it takes two to tango. Connacht might have needed a last minute Niall O’Connor kick to level matters, but they will rue a John Welsh first-half try for the visitors wwhich came from a very poor lapse in defence.

All-Ireland League

As Galwegians players and officials attempted to absorb the monumental loss of the late David O’Hara, who passed away last week, they were understandably absent from all competitive rugby. Their Ulster Bank League clash with Dungannon away will be refixed for a later date, as Ireland’s Six Nations tie with Italy on Saturday means the league is on a break this week.

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