Connacht Rugby make winning start to Guinness PRO12 campaign

Connacht Rugby got their Guinness Pro12 league campaign off to a winning start on Saturday when defeating Newport Dragons 16-11 in the Sportsground.

Drawing too many conclusions from an opening day home win is an exercise in futility for sure but leaving aside the familiar trends – an 11th opening day win in 14 years and a sixth win against the Dragons in their last seven encounters – this had a slightly fresher feel to what we have seen before from the Westerners in this fixture and at this time of year.

Pat Lam called it a ‘calmness’ afterwards when asked to compare this year with last year in the context of the opening day. He felt his side held their nerve in a testing finale as the visitors went in search of the win, specifically naming captain John Muldoon, tighthead Nathan White and Mils Muliaina – who was used as a water carrier for the game – when referencing the main drivers of that vibe.

That was only one element of the composure which saw Connacht come out on the right side of a one score contest where they might not have last season. Jack Carty kicked superbly well in open play after half-time, he looked composed, clued-in and determined.

Denis Buckley and Dave Heffernan were immense in the front-row alongside the experienced White; and Dannie Poolman was the vocal leader in the backline, especially during a crucial period late in the first-half when Dave McSharry was in the sin bin.

Pretoria born-Poolman will be a key man for the province this year, having missed much of last season with a knee injury. He has the speed, agility and nous to become a top try scorer out West and if he can break the magic 10 mark during this campaign, then sixth place might well be within reach. With Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki to come into the side, the chances will be there.

In many ways Poolman is like a new signing this season and so is Jake Heenan. The 22-years-old open-side from the Northland province of New Zealand was back to his destructive best in this game. Not so much containing or repelling attacks, but more stopping them dead in their tracks and killing the momentum of a young and talented visiting side.

A performance born out of power and strength in the set-piece with the front-row dominating and 24 year old Mick Kearney calling the lineouts to great effect and contributing with a phenomenal all round performance at the breakdown lay the foundation for this win.

What it tells us about the season ahead is hard to say at this point, next Friday’s trip to Edinburgh is the other half of this opening tale, a performance there and optimism will reign.