Connacht seek a miracle

Date Published: 29-Feb-2008

IT is a big ask of the Connacht rugby team to get a result against Leinster at the best of times but, with low morale in the camp following the recent defeats to Brive and a second-string Ospreys, they might just need a miracle at the Sportsground this evening (7.30 p.m.).

The fact that the game is taking place in the middle of the Six Nations campaign should give the home supporters some hope, but when you see Irish internationals Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, and Malcolm O’Kelly in the visiting team, it’s hard to be too optimistic.

Clearly, a lot of soul-searching has gone on around the Sportsground since the 37-7 defeat to the Ospreys, a result which left Michael Bradley’s side isolated at the bottom of the table and seemingly without hope of contending for a Heineken Cup place through the closing stretch of the season.

Connacht were reasonably competitive for 30 minutes or so of that Swansea encounter, but they looked to be demoralised when they conceded two tries just before the break. And yet they have tended to give Leinster a good test in recent years, while their decent home form contrasts sharply with the hammerings they’ve received on the road in recent months.

The Connacht coach has made three changes in personnel since the Ospreys game, two of them enforced by injuries. Keith Matthews — who has recovered from an ankle injury — comes in on the right wing at the expense of the injured Daniel Riordan.

In the pack, Colm Rigney has been brought into the back row to replace Michael McCarthy (shoulder), while a tactical change seeing Conor O’Loughlin being drafted in to replace Conor McPhillips.

Leinster tend to expect a tough test whenever they face Connacht and, with the League title in their sights, they are …………………..

Connacht: G. Duffy; K. Matthews, M. Mostyn, M. Deane, A. Wynne; A. Dunne, C. O’Loughlin; B. Wilkinson, A. Flavin, R. Morris; M. Swift, A. Farley; J. Muldoon, J. O’Connor, C. Rigney.