Connacht Rugby host Exeter in Challenge Cup

Connacht Rugby face Exeter at the Sportsground on Sunday (3.15pm) in the first of two games in six days, which will define their season in Europe.

Pat Lam’s men face La Rochelle in France on Saturday week but this weekend’s match against the English Premiership outfit is pretty much a ‘winner takes all’ clash in Pool 2 to qualify for the quarter finals.

Still smarting from last Friday’s 16-13 defeat to Edinburgh, the wounded pride of Connacht Rugby should be enough to produce a backlash, regardless of the strength of the starting XV that is announced at noon today.

The Challenge Cup has lost its lustre, as automatic qualification to the Holy Grail of Champions Cup cannot be achieved even by winning it. But Connacht Rugby will still be anxious to get back to winning ways at the Sportsground, where they were unbeaten in eight games (seven wins and one draw) until Edinburgh brought that record to a shuddering halt last weekend. Another defeat on home soil could lead to a slippery slope.

The loss to Edinburgh was bitterly disappointing but not surprising given that Connacht Rugby didn’t approach the game with the passion and energy that has defined their displays, particularly at home, this season.

They were bullied in the scrum and at the breakdown – where they coughed up far too many penalties – and they lost a few vital line-outs on their own put-in.

Getting back to basics of scrummaging and lineout drills must have been a priority in training this week.

The Edinburgh game proved costly in terms of injuries. Centre, Bundee Aki, damaged his ankle in the closing stages of the match and has been ruled out until at least February. There was better news midweek with the return to action of Nathan White, who played for Connacht Eagles in their win over Leinster A at the Sportsground on Wednesday; while out-half Craig Ronaldson was back training this week after suffering a concussion.

Connacht lost the away leg to Exeter in October, 33-13, but the Englishmen’s form has dipped considerably since then, and they are there for the taking, having lost their last four games.

After the La Rochelle game on Saturday, January 24, Connacht have a much-needed break until February 15 when the league resumes for them with an away trip to Scarlets.

In the All-Ireland league, Galwegians record an 18-15 win away to UL/Bohemians to stay top of the Division 1b table, but city rivals Corinthians are experiencing life at the other end after a 39-10 defeat at home to Garryowen saw them slip to last place.
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