Leinster visit Sportsground for first of three meetings between the sides over next month

BY JOHN FALLON

Connacht coach Andy Friend is looking for a response from his men as they head into the final segment of the season with a hammering from Edinburgh earlier this month still fresh in their minds as they prepare to take on Leinster in the URC at the Sportsground on Saturday (7.35pm).

That 56-8 loss in Edinburgh took the wind out of their sails after two good wins, and Friend reckons he will know quite early on Saturday whether they are set for a repeat of that, or the superb displays which claimed victories over Scarlets and Stormers.

“Pretty much from the kickoff, I reckon that first collision, you’ll be able to tell whether we’re on or not on. What I want to see is if we do carry, that we carry with really good intent. If you see those in the first 30 seconds it’ll be a good day. If you don’t, it’ll be a long 80 minutes. That’s what happened against Edinburgh.”

Winger Alex Wootton will miss this weekend’s URC clash with Leinster with a foot injury, but Connacht are hopeful he will be back when they face Leo Cullen’s men twice again next month, this time in the last 16 of the Champions Cup.

Prop Tietie Tuimauga is recovering from a calf injury which will see him miss this weekend’s clash with Leinster but should also be back for the Champions Cup double clash with them; while lock Gavin Thornbury has returned to training from a shoulder injury which has sidelined him for almost a year.

Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham will not be available for Saturday’s clash following their Six Nations duty, but out-half Jack Carty will be back along with hooker Dave Heffernan.

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

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