Connacht to bounce back against Welsh outfit who haven’t won in last 36 away games

By JOHN FALLON

ON the face of it, a clash at the Sportsground against a team which hasn’t won in 36 consecutive away matches in the PRO14 is the ideal way for Connacht to bounce back after last weekend’s disappointing 22-17 loss to Ospreys.

But Connacht coach Andy Friend is taking nothing for granted when Bernard Jackman’s Dragons arrive at the Sportsground on Saturday (5.15pm). And he knows that while Dragons’ results have been disappointing this season — just two wins from seven PRO14 games — they are capable of producing top class periods.

In any event, after going down with a fully-loaded side to an Ospreys outfit minus eight Welsh internationals, it’s clear nothing is being taken for granted at the Sportsground this week.

“The bottom line is we let ourselves down there, individually, and collectively and we paid the penalty,” said Friend. “If there is an upside to these things you probably know it is going to happen at some time during the season, so it’s the first time I’ve seen it and early on in my tenure here I’m now aware that can happen and I’m now aware of the signs leading up to it.

“You reflect back and you say if I see that again I’m going to be aware of it and we can have those real conversations with the players and they are going to be held account.”

The loss to a late Dan Evans try could be crucial yet in the quest to get back into the Champions Cup, but a defeat at home to a Dragons side whose only win in Galway came on their first visit in 2004 would be a disaster.

But Connacht are boosted by the availability of Irish scrum-half Kieran Marmion who has been released back to the province to get some badly needed game-time ahead of the home autumn internationals.

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

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