Connacht will need to be firing on all cylinders when they host Cardiff at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday (7.35pm ) if they want to inject some momentum into what has become a disappointing URC campaign.
The Welsh visitors are sitting pretty in fifth position on the URC table; Connacht in 14th. And Cardiff will be in no mood to succumb to Connacht, having lost their European Challenge Cup fixture to Pete Wilkins’ men by 19-28 in Arms Park last month.
However, Connacht is taking heart from the growing numbers of players featuring for Ireland, but they now need to produce victories the URC if they are to maintain any hopes of making the top eight and Champions Cup qualification next season.
Currently in 14th position and with no leeway, head coach Pete Wilkins accepts there is more work to do to achieve those seasonal ambitions, despite enjoying a strong run of form in the European Challenge Cup.
However, the number of Connacht players gaining national recognition in the Ireland set-up, particularly Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham, shows the province is “moving in the right direction,” he says, “but it also shows, from our recent URC form that we’ve got a lot more work still to do”.
“I’d love to be further down the track than we are, but it adds to the motivation – wanting to do well for the province – but the pressure will always be there. That’s professional sport, and as it should be, because we’re representing a lot of people. It comes with the territory, and we’ll keep working.”
However, he says, it is a “huge statement” that the western province has its biggest representation involved in recent Ireland training camps, which include Cian Prendergast, Caolin Blade, Mack Hansen, Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham, Cathal Forde, Ben Murphy, Jack Aungier and Shayne Bolton.
“I’d like to think it’s testament to everyone involved. Certainly the players have earned the right to get those opportunities. I like to think the quality of coaching and player development has played its part too – and all the support around the club for these guys as they’re trying to improve and trying to climb the representative ladder.
“Everyone’s got a stake in it. It shows that players are getting better in this programme, but also that we’re playing a type of rugby – albeit a little inconsistently – and it has contributed.”
However, the one major hiccup is Connacht’s form – the “final bit of the jigsaw”, he says, which is to turn it into improved team performances.
“We’ve got individuals who are improving, and you would hope that the collective bit is not far behind. But again, you know, it’s a wonderful theory for me to sit there and say it, but we’ve got to deliver, and these next two games will show if that’s the case.”
Connacht cannot be satisfied with “just churning out representative players”, he says.
“It’s a brilliant recognition for the club, and it’s where we want to be, but we want to be getting the team’s collective performances on the back of that. So, you know, that’s where our focus is now, and especially over this next block.”
Connacht have slumped to 14th in the URC table on the back of a disappointing result against Glasgow, losing 22-19. However, Wilkins maintains his positivity.
“I’d love to be further down the track than we are, but, you know, it adds to the motivation of wanting to do well for the province, so but the pressure will always be there. That’s professional sport, and as it should be, because we’re representing a lot of important people. But it comes with the territory, and we’ll keep working really hard.”
Also missing this weekend through injury are Hugh Gavin (ankle ), Andrew Smith (thumb ), Denis Buckley (thigh ), Darragh Murray (Achilles ) and Shane Jennings (ankle ).
