It will be hard for Connacht not to have one eye on next weekend’s visit of Ulster when they complete their back-to-back European fixtures in the Galway Sportsground this afternoon (3pm).
Having beaten Brive 38-31 in France last Saturday, there is confidence within the Connacht camp that a repeat victory today will maintain their pole position in the Challenge Cup’s pool five, and set them up for the crunch festive interprovincials.
Europe has traditionally been a vehicle for Connacht to gain both success and gather momentum, and coach Kieran Keane was delighted for his players last weekend, after they dug themselves out of a 16-point hole to record a vital win. Now it is all about consistency.
Brive are no slouches, either out wide or up front, and they will no doubt bring their big mauling side to the Sportsground which Connacht will need to defend. More importantly, says assistant coach Nigel Carolan, Connacht must improve discipline to prevent Brive getting those opportunities. “We are playing on the edge, and there’s a fine line, and sometimes we get the wrong call, but we have to push the boat out. If we improve discipline, we would have more possession and we are dangerous when we have the ball.
“I think there is real competition in the squad, it is finding the balance and those players who are willing to take ownership and account for themselves. Confidence breeds courage which is about ambition, not only as a club but how we play, but it does come with risks.”
While showing backbone and determination in Brive, Connacht certainly looked a more confident outfit, inspired by the return from Ireland of Bundee Aki. He leads the backline where Darragh Leader and James Mitchell replace Tiernan O’Halloran and Kieran Marmion, while James Connolly starts at openside with Eoghan Masterson moving to number eight and taking over the captaincy.
Back home for the first time in three fixtures, Connacht should edge this contest again.
Connacht Rugby: D Leader; C Kelleher, P Ahki, B Aki, M Healy; J Carty, J Mitchell; D Buckley, S Delahunt, F Bealham, U Dillane, Q Roux, C Gallagher, J Connolly, E Masterson (c)
Replacements: T McCartney, P McCabe, C Carey, J Cannon, J Muldoon, K Marmion, T Farrell, T O'Halloran
Brive: G Germain; N Megdoud, A Mignardi (c), B Petre, F Romanet; M Ugalde, F Cazenave; V Devisme, M Tadjer, D Bamba, J Snyman, J Uys, P Narisia, D Waqaniborutu, E Herjean
Replacements: L Martin, K Asieshvili, J Johnston, S Koyamaibole, J Le Devedec, D Delarue, T Laranjeira, G Namy.
Referee: Ian Tempest (England)
