Nel is confident of meeting challenge

Challenge Cup: Connacht coach Steph Nel has adopted a defiant stance ahead of Saturday's second leg Parker Pen Challenge Cup match against Pontypridd at Sardis Road (5.30). The Irish province trail 35-30 following their first leg defeat at Ericsson Park, Athlone last Saturday night.

"It's far from a dead tie. We have got everything to play for and we will have the same attitude we had in Athlone, to go all out to win the game and let things like points difference and try counts take care of themselves.

"It was four tries apiece in the first leg and I feel we wasted a couple of other scoring opportunities while they capitalised on our mistakes. We have got some hard work to do before the second leg at Sardis Road, our scrum must improve and we need to have a bit of a look at our defensive patterns.

"But, considering the same team put 40 points on us three months ago, we have made a massive improvement and the game was there for the taking. We certainly did not let ourselves down in any way.

"The Connacht players are a proud bunch of lads and now they must lift one another because it will be anything but easy at Pontypridd."

Connacht name their team today, but the likelihood is that number eight John O'Sullivan (exams) and wing Ted Robinson (leg injury) who missed the first leg will be available for selection.

Compounding the difficulty of trying to overturn the deficit on the home patch of the Welsh Cup winners are the concerns over the very future of the province.

It is a huge distraction for the players and management whose livelihood is threatened and, were they to advance to the semi-finals, it would constitute one of the great moments in Irish rugby.

Pontypridd Coach Lynn Howells has to rearrange his backline for the return leg, as his side will be without their first choice centre partnership, Sonny Parker and Johnny Bryant, both of whom were injured in the Athlone match.

Wales international Parker is out for six weeks with a broken forearm, while Bryant is sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury.

Last weekend, outhalf Ceri Sweeney moved to centre with youngster Shaun James slotting in at outside centre. Both players acquitted themselves well, with James scoring an excellent try.

"The biggest positive is that we got a result away against one of the Irish provinces," Howells said. "They caught us a bit by surprise by spreading the ball wide so much. They've not done that against anyone else.

"It took us a little while to adjust to that, but the boys stuck in there and sorted it out."

Howells is understandably disappointed about the injuries to his centres.

"Connacht haven't done Welsh rugby any favours at all. It's very disappointing for both guys. Sonny's not in very good humour at the moment - he's out for six weeks which means he'll return just in time for the Six Nations, but with no rugby under his belt.

"But that's what sport is all about - these things happen and we just have to get on with it."