Champions Cup rugby is the big draw for Connacht this season, but tomorrow it is all about the start of the bread and butter competition, the United Rugby Championship, with Stuart Lancaster’s side facing DHL Stormers (7.45pm )
It is a huge opening fixture for Connacht against the South African side that lost last season’s semi-final to eventual winners Leinster, and it could well be a litmus test for Lancaster’s squad as they return to an expectant Dexcom Stadium crowd.
Last season’s eighth place finish and qualification for the European top tier was a real reward for Connacht’s tenacity and improvement under Stuart Lancaster. Now in his second year, the former England, Racing, and Leinster coach will want and demand more from his squad.
After a “decent break”, and two pre-season games against Vannes and Ealing Trailfinders, Connacht is looking in good shape - but they will be without some of their big players.
The seven involved in Ireland’s summer fixtures are unavailable this week this week - Bundee Aki, Billy Bohan, Ciarán Frawley, Sam Illo, Sean Jansen, Darragh Murray and Cian Prendergast. And the hooker position remains “tricky” according to Lancaster with Dylan Tierney Martin recovering from ankle injury following the Vannes clash in France and Dave Heffernan “having pulled up last week”.
However, Eoin de Buitlear is available, alongside Matthew Victory and the academy’s Micky Yarr and new signing Duinne McGuire.
With a squad of 38 and 18 academy players, Lancaster’s intention is to “go out and win every game - as it was last year”, but greater rotation is expected.
“There's going to be a natural changing of the guard in terms of selection because the Irish internationals become available in rounds two and three,” he says. “So I've explained to players that this is September and [the season] is 10 months. If we manage to win all our games and get to the finals, you're talking 29 games in a season. I think our highest number of starts was around about 17 or 18 last season, and you saw the lads who had to do that. That was tough on them, really.”
Thus, when the international players return, changes are expected going into Treviso and Glasgow.
“Europe comes early, and that brings its own challenges. In the Challenge Cup, you can rotate your team against a Black Lion or a Montauban to give players opportunities, but you don't really want to put a young team out against Saracens or Toulouse, a La Rochelle or Exeter.”
Sean Jansen
The early re-signing of Sean Jansen on a two-year extension is another piece of good news.
“Not only a good achievement for the player,” he says, but that “everyone was super confident in the direction of travel he is going, and he's very confident in the direction of travel the club is going”.
“It's great news for the club to actually do the business early. It shows not only to the supporters and everyone surrounding the club that players of Sean's calibre are wanting to commit and stay, and it also sends a message to his own teammates that he's committed. If we're trying to build something that becomes a long-term successful team, players like Sean are critical.”
Another major player for Connacht is Paul Boyle, the 29-year-old team captain, who says it's important to maintain the momentum and confidence that had grown in the last 10 games of the season, while also being alert to what the Stormers bring on Friday night.
And although Connacht have beaten the South African visitors before, Boyle knows they present a “massive challenge”.
“You can’t sleepwalk into it, but at the same time, the squad is feeling good. There are a couple of new guys who have really added to the environment, and we're just looking forward to getting going.”
Having beaten the Stormers in Capetown, Boyle is expecting “a modicum of revenge”.
“They won't be using that hugely, but they still want to get their season off to a good start.”
