Odds against Connacht in grudge tie against Leinster

Date Published: 28-Dec-2012

 CONNACHT’S record on the road against Irish opposition is abysmal and is unlikely to change this weekend at the RDS on Saturday (7.45pm) when they face Leinster, who are still stinging from the 34-6 thumping they received at the Sportsground in September.

The current management team – Eric Elwood, Dan McFarland and Tim Allnutt – all played starring roles for Connacht in September, 2002, the last time Connacht won in Dublin, which was a first win in the capital in 17 years. An injury time drop-goal from full-back Mark McHugh sealed the 26-23 victory which ended Leinster’s three-year unbeaten home record.

Leinster enter this Saturday’s clash also having not lost at home in the competition this season – they are one of only two teams with 100% home records – but they have lost their way a bit in the past few weeks, suffering three defeats on the trot.

The fact that Leinster sent down their second string team to Galway earlier in the season makes no odds and they will be eager to atone for that 28-points hiding in which the young backs from the west ran riot in the five-tries to nil rout.

Connacht’s hurt is fresher, though. It’s still hard to believe how they managed to lose against Munster at the weekend, given their territorial and possession superiority. Even Munster were bemused to get out of Galway with the win.

Elwood criticised a poor refereeing decision before halftime, the awarding of a penalty try, which effectively decided the tie in Munster’s favour. He was right to do so, no way was that the correct decision, but he was equally right to lament his side’s inability to convert chances into scores.

Two gilt-edged try scoring opportunities – George Nauopu will have nightmares about not grounding the ball when he crossed the line after Eoin Griffin’s clever chip through late in the second half – went astray and a missed penalty from out-half Dan Parks proved extraordinarily costly for the home team whose efforts were worth more than a losing bonus point.

The recent very public brouhaha between Connacht CEO Tom Sears, and Schmidt, about Leinster’s policy of targeting of players from the western province, adds an edge to this encounter.

Connacht are without Willie Faloon and John Muldoon for this clash and there’s a question mark over the availability of Tiernan O’Halloran, who was hauled ashore through injury last Saturday.

For more on this match see this week’s Tribune’s