Mils Muliaina needs to deliver as Connacht face daunting task

This needs to be the night Mils Muliaina rolls back the years. It could easily be the night his buckled wheels roll into the category of yet another imported rugby legend punctured by faded greatness.

That’s the high standard expected of a centurion All Black, above all because he commands a salary, supplemented by the IRFU, which could have covered the cost of a mere 60 academy players.

Either way, after an injury-broken season Muliaina leaves for Zebre this summer.

Missing Kiwis

It’s that very academy system that Connacht coach

Pat Lam

leans heavily upon here as three other Kiwis are notable by their enforced absence. This was to be the season

Nathan White

climbed into Ireland contention but tear has followed rupture. Promising flanker

Jake Heenan

and the initially great-looking Bundee Aki are are also sorely missed.

Dave McSharry’s unavailability further weakens midfield stocks but Robbie Henshaw’s timely return will lend a touch of class. And power.

"He's nice and refreshed, he got a couple of days off and I'm sure he badly needed it, mentally and physically," said captain John Muldoon.

“He’s a massive player for Connacht rugby, he’s done outstandingly well for Ireland over the last couple of weeks and he’ll bring a huge boost to us coming back. Robbie is Robbie, he’ll fit right back in.”

It's also another test for Athlone's second-favourite rugby son, Jack Carty, named at outhalf ahead of Craig Ronaldson.

Both teams come off the back of disappointing, comprehensive defeats to Sale (23-6) and Munster (42-20).

"It is a huge game for the club and if we want to win it and progress in the tournament we will have to bring our own physicality to the game," said Gloucester director of rugby David Humphreys.

“We’ve known for a while the European campaign was something we could take away with us from this season.”

Brendan Macken, on loan from Leinster, doesn't make the squad but Humphreys has loaded his ranks with Six Nations returnees. Winger Jonny May, scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw and hooker Richard Hibbard all add quality that Connacht will struggle to match. There is also John Afoa and James Hook at outhalf to consider as a tortuous night is promised for Connacht who cannot have the same interest in this tournament as Gloucester.

Qualification

Lam’s charges must beat Ulster at home on April 11th to maintain sixth spot in the Pro 12 and automatic qualification for the Champions Cup.

Considering Gloucester are barely clear of relegation trouble, winning the Challenge Cup is their best route into Europe’s top tier.

Whatever team from the Premiership, Top 14 and Pro 12 wins the Challenge Cup, will replace the seventh-placed team in their league in playoffs with the seventh-placed teams in the other two leagues. This could well see Gloucester meet Connacht again giving this game double value. Sort of.

Not that Connacht will wilt entirely but Gloucester look far too strong.

GLOUCESTER: S McColl; C Sharples, B Meakes, B Twelvetrees (capt), J May; J Hook, G Laidlaw; D Murphy, R Hibbard, J Afoa; T Savage, T Palmer; S Kalamafoni, M Kvesic, G Evans.

Replacements: D Dawidiuk, N Wood, S Puafisi, J Hudson, R Moriarty, D Robson, B Burns, H Purdy.

CONNACHT: M Muliaina; T O'Halloran, D Poolman, R Henshaw, M Healy; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, T McCarthy, R Ah You; Q Roux, A Muldowney; A Browne, E Masterson, J Muldoon (capt).

Replacements: S Delahunt, JP Cooney, F Bealham, M Kearney, J Connolly, I Porter, C Ronaldson, D Leader.

Referee: M Raynal (France).

Verdict: Gloucester.