Stakes low as Connacht host Cardiff Blues

The gloss from a promising run during the Six Nations period has long since worn off with heavy defeats to Ulster and Munster, but this fixture is eminently winnable for Pat Lam’s men.

While the gap to the top sides remains gigantic on the evidence of this season’s results, Connacht have been consistently beating the sides in the lower half of the table at an encouraging rate and that needs to continue here. Cardiff have been abject this season at Pro 12 level. but have shown some good signs of late.

In terms of team news from the last outing against Munster two weeks ago. Dave Heffernan, Fionn Carr and Craig Ronaldson are all back in contention with no new injury concerns for the management team. The likes of Matt Healy, Willie Faloon and Danie Poolman will be sharper having marked their respective returns from long term injuries.

It was announced on Tuesday that 36-year-old Michael Swift will return for a 15th season as will Mata Fifita who has struggled to make any sort of an impact on the first team, but remains part of Pat Lam’s cover options. One would imagine that both contracts are very much on the lower end of the scale in terms of cost to the province.

The list of players confirmed as leaving Connacht at the end of the season include Gavin Duffy and Dan Parks. Both have been key players for the province in recent seasons. 33-year-old Duffy has spent ten seasons with the province with a three year spell in Harlequins sandwiched in between.

Parks joined Connacht two seasons ago making his debut in Connacht’s last inter-provincial success when they beat Leinster in October 2012. The full list of players leaving is as follows: Brett Wilkinson (retired), Gavin Duffy, Frank Murphy, Eoin Griffin (London Irish), Paul O’Donohoe, Dan Parks, Kyle Tonetti (retired), Aaron Conneely, Brian Murphy, Dave Nolan and James Rael.

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