‘Every game is a final’ for Connacht

FOLLOWING the disappointment of last weekend’s 18-point loss in Llanelli, Connacht are back in Wales tomorrow desperate to keep themselves in the mix for a top-six PRO12 finish and European Cup qualification. Pat Lam’s side face a Dragons outfit on a high after ending Leinster’s 21-game unbeaten run at the RDS last weekend while Connacht have not won away from home since defeating Treviso on October 10.

However, the visitors are driven by the desire to atone for their errors against the Scarlets last time out and by the knowledge that these are the types of fixtures they simply have to win if their goal of a top-six league finish is to be realised. ‘It’s now eight games to go and everything is a final,’ said Lam.

‘It’s as simple as that, but that is a good challenge, so while everyone was down after the weekend, it is fixable.’ Meanwhile, Danny Cipriani showed he is ready to play a major role for England when they travel to Dublin for their Six Nations showdown with Ireland next weekend when he inspired Sale to to 14-10 Premiership win over Saracens. Having turned down a lucrative offer from French champions Toulon to sign a two-year Sale extension this week, Cipriani was typically influential as two firsthalf tries from centre Sam Tuitupou and lock Jonathan Mills put the hosts in control. Cipriani, who provided a brilliant short pass for Tuitupou’s try, converted both tries to establish a 14-3 interval lead over Saracens, who lost flanker Jacques Burger and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth to the sinbin in the first half.