Harlequins v Connacht The Stoop, Sunday, 1.0"The biggest match in Connacht's history" has actually become something of a glib phrase for the province in latter years. It even became something of an in-joke during their run to the quarter-finals of this competition both last season and six seasons ago.
But it has a certain resonance this weekend.
Michael Bradley and his players had targeted a first trophy this season but when they lost by a point in the semi-finals of the altogether more modest Celtic Cup it was presumed that their best chance had gone. Yet here they stand, the much-maligned, oft-derided, and latterly threatened province, on the verge of their first European final.
The Stoop, or anywhere else for that matter, will never have seen anything like it, as an estimated 1,200 Connacht followers descend on this part of Twickenham, no doubt supplemented by a sizeable expatriate support.
Keeping the tie alive, to use football parlance, by keeping within a score of the London club would give Connacht a fair chance of reaching the May 22nd final against Montferrand or Bath given the expanded Sportsground capacity for the return leg in a fortnight is already nearing a 5,500 sell-out.
However, as Bradley sees it: "We have to go and win. In all our matches we've won the first leg and we would put a value on that." Indeed, as their altogether tougher route to the final indicates, the venue has almost been academic in the manner they've overcome Beziers, Pau and Narbonne.
At full strength, Bradley and his assistant John McKee have predictably hit on a settled team for this game, restoring Adrian Clarke and Damien Browne to the starting line-up in an otherwise unchanged side.
By contrast, Harlequins have rattled up 234 points in a fairly facile route to the last four, scoring 20 tries in their three ties at the Stoop to date.
After a run of just one win in five games, albeit after narrow defeats to Wasps and Leicester before having the better of a 15-15 draw with London Irish, Harlequins welcome back leading try-scorer George Larder and leading points-scorer Paul Burke. Simon Keogh is reinstated at scrumhalf instead of his former Leinster team-mate Ben Willis, while Pat Sanderson, their influential back-rower, is ruled out with a shoulder injury and replaced by Roy Winters.
"This is a massive game for both teams," said Harlequins chief executive Mark Evans. "From what we have seen Connacht look a very well-organised side who have a tremendous team spirit."
With two former Connacht men in full back Gavin Duffy and centre Mel Deane, the London outfit shouldn't be short of inside information, although Bradley reckons Harlequins will actually learn more from the first leg than Connacht.
Bradley and McKee were over to watch Harlequins take on Wasps a fortnight ago and have also been well briefed by the London Irish director of rugby, Conor O'Shea.
"They have a completely different style of play to the French teams we've played so far," says the Connacht coach. "They have an extremely fast back line with plenty of finishing ability, who are dangerous off turnovers. The type of players they've brought over from Ireland, relatively light but very quick, are synonymous with their style of play."
The way Bradley describes it, Quins are unlikely to do a number on Connacht up front, but could almost lull his team into a false sense of security before striking stealthily if Connacht don't place a premium on accuracy in everything they do.
Harlequins look the more potent side, but Connacht actually have an advantage in size, especially up front. Given the potency of their close-in maul lately, which has been the platform for wins over Leinster and the Ospreys, it may be a little ugly at times.
"With the game being live on Sky and getting the full Premiership treatment, it's a big stage for all the boys, and there's an excitement there," admits Bradley, "but the boys are also focused on the reality of the job they have to do. There's a good balance there."
HARLEQUINS: G Duffy; G Harder, W Greenwood, M Deane, U Monye; P Burke, S Keogh; M Worsley, T Fuga, J Dawson, S Miall, J Evans, R Winters, T Diprose, A Vos (capt). Replacements: J Hayter, L Gomez, C Jones, B Davison, L Sherriff, B Willis, A Dunne.
CONNACHT: M Mostyn; C McPhillips, D Yapp, M McHugh, W Munn; E Elwood, M Walls; D McFarland, B Jackman (capt), A Clarke, D Browne, A Farley, M Swift, J O'Sullivan, M Lacey. Replacements: J Fogarty, P Bracken, M McCarthy, P Neville, C O'Loughlin, S Moore, T Robinson.
Referee: Giulio de Santis (Italy).
Route to semi-finals: Harlequins: First round: 31-18 (a) and 63-3 (h) v Cetransa El Salvador (Spain); Second round: 43-8 (a) and 36-17 (h) v Montauban; Third round: 41-8 (h) and 20-36 (a) v Brive. Connacht: First round: 18-10 (a) and 11-13 (h) v Beziers; Second round: 29-7 (h) and 6-10 (a) v Pau; Third round: 27-18 (a) and 16-10 (h) v Narbonne.
Forecast: Connacht to win.
