Connacht still seeking right formula ahead of away test

THE unpredictable and ever changing season continues for Connacht on Friday as Andy Friend’s side return to action with a trip to Rodney Parade in Newport to take on the Dragons. Kick off is 7:35 and the re-arranged fixture is a welcome one during a quiet period for most sides in this competition.

For the moment, the top position in their Conference is well out of reach with Munster racing clear, but a top three position secures Champions Cup rugby for another season and that is the main focus. Uncertainty still surrounds the format of the PRO14 with it currently due to finish in March, but with a strong possibility of it being extended to the end of May.

In the meantime, all Connacht can do is prepare for forthcoming fixtures and rack up as many points as they possibly can. The last outing against the Ospreys at the Sportsground didn’t go to plan. They faced a strong outfit with four key Welsh internationals in top form and they were well and truly outfoxed during a second half collapse. Connacht led by 12 at half time but lost six in the end. The losing bonus point a very meagre consolation.

Andy Friend was in upbeat and philosophical mood when he spoke to the media this week just a few days after signing a contract extension with the province that will take him through to 2023 having joined in 2018. He certainly doesn’t think all is lost in this campaign after just one win from seven during a tough schedule of games in the last couple of months.

“We haven’t found our right formula yet,” said Friend. “We’ve been there or thereabouts in the ones we’ve lost and the ones we’ve won, we’ve won handsomely, but it’s hard to predict what this one will be like. Dragons have been a bit like us in terms of a stop-start season. Having said that, we won there last year and I do think we can win again. At the same time, if we don’t turn up with our right game of football, they’ve enough in their armoury to cause us problems.”

When asked if he felt some of the problems that have cropped up in the closing stages of games – such as the narrow loss to Munster last month – have been rectified, Friend gave some insight into how the squad and management team have been addressing the issues.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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