Allnutt busy with details for SA trip

CONNACHT face a busy few weeks where the air miles will be accumulated as tomorrow’s home clash with Zebre is followed by trips to Italy and South Africa.

Next weekend’s trip to Treviso also takes on even greater significance as it is the first leg in a mini tour as the westerners will travel from Italy on to South Africa.

Since the inception of the Celtic League, Connacht have never had to face such travel commitments, but manager Tim Allnutt has been working away in the background to make everything run as seamless as possible.

While the three other Irish provinces have already made the trip to South Africa this season, Allnutt knows he faces a busy week to keep the tour on schedule.

“We had become very used of travelling to Scotland and Wales to take on our PRO12 opponents. The expansion of the league to become the PRO14 has been really exciting for everyone,” explained Allnutt.

“Of course, it has also meant that we have to put the logistical plans in place to travel to South Africa to play the Cheetahs. With the game against Benetton next Saturday we will fly into Treviso early on Friday morning and go through our normal away-game routine.

“The difference this time is that after that game we will be travelling on to Johannesburg and from there to Bloemfontein. We have put a plan in place to ensure if we pick up any injuries in Italy we will be flying players in the next day to join up with the squad.

“We will be travelling with a slightly larger squad, but it is definitely the trip everybody wants to be on and everybody will be hoping for that call. I have also spoken to some supporters who are travelling over.

“I am sure that will be a great experience for them and I know it will give the lads a massive lift over there in what is going to be a really tough game”, he added.