CONNACHT ARE BACK IN BIG TIME
Friend’s men ready to book play-off spot
“Our destiny remains in our own hands”
CONNACHT were in a dark place this time last year. The Westerners were slowly crawling towards the finish line after a wretched season under Kieran Keane’s watch.
The province had been reduced to a basement battle with Zebre at the murky depths of Conference A. Keane, the highly-rated New Zealander who had succeeded Pat Lam on a three-year deal the previous summer, would soon be handed his P45. Connacht’s talismanic captain John Muldoon was also hanging up his boots.
That historic Pro12 triumph over Leinster at Murrayfield back in 2016 was seen as a turning point in Connacht’s history.
Viewed as the poorer cousin to the three big provinces on this island, they had finally announced they were also a force to be reckoned with — only to go into freefall last season.
Then Andy Friend arrived as the province’s new supremo last summer. An affable Aussie with a rich rugby intellect acquired through stints in Sevens and 15s across three different continents, Friend brought an energy and enthusiasm to an operation which was sorely lacking under the Keane regime.
He didn’t tear up the script when he arrived. Instead, Friend went about making subtle tweaks. He inherited a talented backroom team with attack coach Nigel Carolan, forwards coach Jimmy Duffy and defence guru Peter Wilkins all on board.
Often a new boss will want to make his own stamp on a new team and clearing out the old assistants is usually the first order of business. Friend stuck with the established order and it has proved a winning combination. Carolan, Duffy and Wilkins all signed two-year contract extensions in January.
After years of upheaval and uncertainty, Connacht finally have a coaching ticket that are functioning harmoniously and delivering a game-plan that every member of the squad is buying into.
After the annus horribilis of 2018, Connacht are back in the big time. This afternoon they can seal a first appearance in the Pro14 playoffs in three years. Standing in their way are Cardiff Blues, who are currently four points adrift of today’s opponents. Munster did their provincial brethren a huge favour last Friday when they beat Cardiff out the gate down in Cork. Connacht can finish the job at a sold-out Sportsgrounds this afternoon and Friend has gone fully-loaded for this one. Having rested some key players for the recent clashes with Sale Sharks and Zebre, Connacht’s head coach is sending out the big guns in Galway.
Friend’s men have been the great entertainers of the league this season with their high-tempo, offloading game — but they had to grind it out in Parma last weekend. Every game is must-win at this stage of the campaign and Connacht looked a little nervy against Zebre last time out.
A pair of Jack Carty penalties got the job done. They lacked bite and ballast last weekend, but the return for Bundee Aki and Paul Boyle to the starting line-up should sort out that issue. Aki is back alongside Tom Farrell to form one of the most effective and dangerous midfield combinations in Europe. Aki’s power game and defence is the perfect foil for Farrell’s footwork and offloading skills. That is just one of the many components that makes this Connacht side so dangerous.
Their back three of Tiernan O’Halloran, Darragh Leader and Matt Healy is rapid while Carty will once again steer the ship from No10. Quinn Roux and Finlay Bealham are major losses to the pack due to illness and injury respectively, but Connacht can field the likes of Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Ireland lock Ultan Dillane in the tight five.
Only 22, Boyle has had a break
“We know
exactly what we need to do”
out season in the Connacht backrow. Back in September, Friend said the ‘sky’s the limit’ for the Gorey-born flanker and he has constantly delivered for his province. Boyle will pack down with skipper Jarrad Butler and Colby Fainga’a — arguably the signing of the season on this island. They are primed for a big performance in Galway today. ‘The stakes are really high but our destiny remains in our own hands,’ said Friend.
‘If we perform on Saturday and can win the game we can secure that play-off on Saturday night and ensure a Champions Cup spot, which would be brilliant.
‘We know what we need to do to get a result. We must make sure we are nice and direct, that we control the football when we have it, and when we don’t, we get don’t give them easy yardage.’
That sentence is quite telling. The visitors very much share Connacht’s attacking philosophy
They were demolished by Muncombination ster in Musgrave Park last Friday night, yet still managed to score three tries of the highest quality. From live-wire scrum-half Tomos Williams to their all-action centre of Willis Halaholo and Rey Lee-Lo, Cardiff have a backline laced with attacking intent.
In Gareth Anscombe, they have a No10 who is having the season of his life. The adopted Kiwi was integral to Wales’s charge to Grand Slam glory last month. Unsurprisingly, his displays have been drawing the attention of the big-spending English clubs with Bath and Bristol both reportedly tabling lucrative offers to entice him across the Severn Bridge.
Ireland failed to shut him down in Cardiff last month. Connacht will Anscombe in their sights this afternoon.
They are ready to return to the big time.