Lam’s Connacht squad bid to improve their poor league record against Welsh visitors

ASIDE from the three other Irish provinces, this weekend’s visitors to the Sportsground, Cardiff Blues, is the club Connacht losses to more often than any other.

It’s a strange statistic, especially when you consider Welsh clubs, Ospreys and Scarlets, have been relatively more successful in the league than Cardiff.

Connacht always struggle to get results against Cardiff, who pretty much perennially can rely on results against Connacht.

Of the 22 previous meetings between these two teams, Cardiff have emerged on top 18 times. There’s been one draw, and Connacht have tasted victory just three times.

It’s a fairly brutal record. But it gets worse: Connacht’s heaviest defeat in the league came in 2008 at Cardiff Arms Park; it also happens to be Cardiff’s best ever result.

The westerners failed to score that day and shipped nine tries and 58 points. A roasting, if ever there was one. Connacht made up for it last year, in February 2013, when they recorded a rare away triumph in Wales.

Obviously, neither game will have a bearing on Friday’s game (7.35pm) but tradition does matter in fixtures like this . . . and head coach Mark Hammett will take great solace in the fact that Cardiff have lost just once (September, 2009) in eight visits to Galway. It may be ‘fortress’ Sportsground but for Cardiff, it’s a happy hunting ground.

Connacht, high on confidence despite last week’s loss to Glasgow, will be hoping to end the Cardiff hex but they may have to do so without the services of Matt Healy.

The 25-year-old winger was concussed in the first half of a bruising encounter at Scotstoun and will be monitored by doctors ahead of Thursday’s announcement of the starting xv.

There were fears that scrum half Ian Porter might have fractured his hand but x-rays confirmed he’s okay. The first choice nine, Kieran Marmion, rested the last day, may be back in contention.

Elsewhere, two players underwent surgery this week. Tiernan O’Halloran had knee scope surgery and is expected back in training in three weeks.

Jake Heenan also underwent shoulder surgery and will be sidelined for up to five months. Hooker Seán Henry is to go under the knife in a few weeks and will be out for between six and eight months.

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