Connacht senior women's XV will be determined to come away from Musgrave Park on Saturday with a win when they face Munster in the second of the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship (7.30pm ).
Having opened the 2021 campaign with a 12-17 loss to champions Leinster in a highly competitive and close encounter, Ross Mannion's XV will be keen to turn their continued improvement into a victory as they now target two wins in the next two games.
Connacht gave as good as they got from the Leinster champions on a day which welcomed 500 supporters to the Galway Sportsground. But in the end Leinster had an extra cutting edge in attack which exposed Connacht's defence in the second half.
"A great advertisement for Connacht Rugby and the women's game," says Connacht coach Ross Mannion. "There is no looking back for this group now. We did leave it be behind a little bit. We want to be contesting this championship and we proved we are well able to compete - just too many errors, too many penalties."
Having already played Munster in a challenge game, Connacht are preparing themselves for a physical battle up front, while this week's work-on is speed and organisation in defence, particularly on the counterattack. Leinster's midfield of Niamh Bynre and player of the match Michelle Claffey, who scored two of the three tries, profited in attack when exposing the defensive line.
"We need to be a little bit quicker so we are not down a number on the outside, but on the whole our defence was immense and our workrate fantastic."
Connacht dominated the opening 10 minutes and were rewarded with a seventh minute try from openside Meadbh Scally with outhalf Nicole Fowley converting for a deserved lead. However Leinster took control for a period in which Connacht lost scrumhalf Mary Healy to the sin-bin. Despite a super defensive effort, eventually Leinster took advantage from a missed touch with former international Jenny Murphy's break providing Jenny Finlay with the chance to touch down.
