European Challenge Cup: Keith Dugganon how an outhalf of pedigree is relishing Connacht's latest assault on Europe
When David Slemen signed for Connacht, he left his home in Liverpool the old-fashioned way, cramming every possession that would fit into the back of his car, taking a ferry and driving across Ireland.
"I wanted to get my bearings from the beginning," he says in a warm Scouse accent.
Although he felt comfortable with his new club from the start, a succession of injuries meant that only this year has he been able to demonstrate why the Irish province were attracted to him. Sharing the outhalf duties with Paul Warwick, Slemen has the versatility that frees coach Michael Bradley to drop him to fullback or into the three-quarter line when he chooses.
Although Connacht's form has been volatile this season, Slemen has been consistently impressive. He hit 16 points against Gwent last Friday night and has delivered two tries in two games. He is adamant the western province can mark this season with another of their trailblazing, defiant runs.
Stuck firmly at the bottom of the Celtic League table, Connacht are once again poised to embark on a European Challenge Cup assault, with today's visit of Montpellier the defining game in the group. It is as though the European scene liberates Connacht from the pressures of securing Celtic League points.
"Well, maybe, but as a player you don't distinguish one game from the next," Slemen argues. "You feel equally confident about them all. I mean, there is no escaping the fact we are in a poor position in the Celtic League. And we were robbed against Ospreys, lost by two points to Borders and were unlucky against Llanelli.
"But we have eight games to retrieve something from the situation and they matter hugely to us. Maybe the games in the Challenge Cup have a slightly different feel to them but we have been giving the same effort. And against Worcester, in particular, that paid off.
"Getting a winning try late on was huge for us - it was just the break that eluded us in some of the Celtic League games."
They sang like cup celebrants in the dressingroom that afternoon in a remarkable demonstration of togetherness that made light of their bleak Celtic League standing. A New Year's Eve victory over Ulster brought further validation of their worth and convinced Slemen the team were on the verge of turning things around.
"From the beginning, I have found this Connacht team to be a pretty tight bunch. And Michael (Bradley) is a very cool figure no matter what the situation.
"So we have never felt we were playing especially badly, just that results weren't falling our way. And it wasn't a question of choking or anything. It's just that sometimes small things go against you."
It was through watching Connacht play Harlequins in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup in 2004 that Slemen first became aware of them. His friend Matt Lacey had spoken enthusiastically about the set-up and how it was a club he might like. He arrived the same season as Australian sevens specialist Warwick and, since Eric Elwood's retirement, they offer two distinctive brands of number 10 play - and Bradley has skilfully blended both styles into Connacht's attacking game.
Slemen came with a blue-chip pedigree, his father Mike having been capped 31 times for England and participated in the Lions tour of 1980, the year England completed a famous Grand Slam.
Although soccer will always be the sport that made Liverpool famous, there is a strong tradition of rugby in the city.
"I went to Merchant, Taylor and Crosbie school and learned the game there. I played football too, but wasn't all that good at it, to be honest. There was a club called Waterloo just down the road from us who were fairly strong. My dad didn't actually play with them.
"There was a county system then and Lancaster were strong. Guys like Fran Cotton and Steve Smith and Billy Beaumont were all involved so there was a fairly vibrant scene. I was too young to remember most of my dad's career. I went to Twickenham in 1983 to see him and have a few memories of that but I was only five then. It was the noise that most impressed me."
There is no mistaking the Sportsground for Twickenham but the draughty old arena has become an equally tough place to come and win at. Slemen was injured for Connacht's victory in Montpellier in the autumn and is relishing meeting the French today. He and Warwick work closely with Elwood, who has "gone upstairs" to act as Bradley's assistant coach.
"It's been great, a real help in getting small things right. We have spent a lot of time working on restarts and things like that, elements of my game that needed to be stronger, and I feel as if I am approaching things with a lot more confidence as a result."
When Slemen arrived here, he signed a one-year contract, "partly to keep my girlfriend happy". Midway through his second season now, he feels fully at home in Connacht - although he often wishes he could get over to Anfield to see his boyhood team play more regularly.
"I actually got to see them three times last season and they lost every game. When the Champions League final was on in May, my mother was convinced I was a jinx and more or less threw me out of the house for the weekend. I ended up in a mate's house outside the city and we couldn't get back in for love nor money - there was a million people on the streets."
It all goes to prove his point: seasons turn. Right now, Slemen would settle for conquering Europe with Connacht. Beginning with Montpellier.
"I have heard a lot about how tough and enjoyable it is to play in these French games. And we will go out there full of belief. We always do."
