AMLIN CUP SEMI-FINAL: Connacht v RC Toulon:THERE HAS been a tendency to view Connacht as the runt of the Irish rugby litter, a plucky but underachieving sibling to the other three provinces. Budgetary constraints deny them a level playing footing, offering some mitigation if little satisfaction for the players or management; being patronised is rarely palatable.
It can though engender a team spirit, pulling together the coaching and playing strands to the exclusion of peripheral opinion. It can harden resolve and, properly channelled, become a productive energy source.
Connacht have earned the right not to be damned with faint praise by dint of their performances in the Amlin Challenge Cup and beyond this season.
An unbeaten passage through a pool stage that included wins away to Worcester Warriors and Montpellier was followed by a hardnosed, gutsy display in edging past Bourgoin in the quarter-finals to provide them with tonight’s opportunity to topple the lavish- spending, RC Toulon, who finished second in the league stage of the French Top 14 Championship.
The French club have won their last 10 matches in all competitions, including a victory on the road in Toulouse and another in their own backyard against the team that pipped them on points difference in the league section, Perpignan; the latter the current holders of the Bouclier de Brennus.
Drawing a form-line to tonight’s match in Galway is slightly disingenuous. Toulon beat the Scarlets 38-10 in the Amlin quarter-final while Connacht-lite lost 58-10 to the Welsh franchise last weekend.
Phillipe Saint-Andre, the Toulon coach has opted to leave Australian phenomenon Sonny Bill Williams on the bench and former Leinster star Felipe Contepomi and ex-All Black captain Tana Umaga out of the squad completely but can still field an impressive team, top heavy with talent.
Wallaby Matt Henjak returns from injury to captain the side and partner World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson at halfback. Mafi Kefu is named at centre alongside ex-Newcastle Falcon Tom May while Fijian wing – he’s the team’s top try scorer in the tournament with six – Gabi Lovobalavu offers an obvious threat out wide.
The pack offers the cosmopolitan, Test match savvy of Saimone Taumoepeau (New Zealand), Tonga Leaoetoa (Tonga), Esteban Lozada (Argentina), Joe van Niekerk (South Africa) and Juan Fernandez Lobbe (Argentina). Former Munster prop Timmy Ryan is among the replacements.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley has been faced with some tough decisions, notably at outhalf, tighthead and in the composition of the back five. It’s critical that Connacht do not retreat into a shell of orthodoxy or conservatism tonight.
The team has played a brand of rugby that has been attractive but effective and that can not be allowed to wither and die because of the magnitude of the occasion.
It’s not a time for wishing or hoping. John Muldoon has endorsed his leadership by deed, a responsibility embraced by Gavin Duffy, Fionn Carr, Niva Ta’auso, Frank Murphy, Seán Cronin and the outstanding George Naoupu and indeed most of the squad throughout the season.
No one will quibble that tonight’s combatants are assembled from two different financial stratospheres but it’s unlikely anyone’s going to whip out a payslip to intimidate the opposition at ruck or maul.
Connacht are used to the tag of underdogs but should not seek consolation or mitigation in it.
The Sportsground should be heaving – it’s the least the team deserves – a kaleidoscope of colour and noise and a passionate backdrop to a great occasion for rugby in the province.
Toulon start as favourites but then so does every team Connacht play. Reputations are earned not bestowed in Galway as many a visiting team will attest.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; T Nathan, N Ta'auso, A Wynne, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan; M Swift, M McCarthy; J Muldoon (capt), J O'Connor, G Naoupu.
Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, R Morris, B Upton, M McComish, C O'Loughlin, M Nikora, B Tuohy.
RC TOULON: L Rooney; G Lovobalavu, M Kefu, T May, C Marienval; J Wilkinson, M Henjak (capt); S Taumoepeau, P Fitzgerald, T Leaaetoa; J Suta, E Lozada; J van Niekerk, T Sourice, J Fernandez Lobbe. Replacements: S Bruno, B Basteres, T Ryan, K Chesney, O Missoup, J Sinzelle, P Mignoni, S Williams.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) Previous meetings: None.
