Sunday’s anticipated interprovincial clash with Munster at the Galway Sportsground (5.05pm ) will have a huge impact on Connacht’s ambitions to close the gap on Ulster and claim a Heineken Cup place via the Magners League.
Now just four behind Ulster, who lost to the Ospreys by 38 - 27 on Tuesday night, Connacht need to capitalise and ensure they still have that target come the last league game of the season.
With Connacht’s confidence soaring after last weekend’s European quarter-final victory over Bourgoin, that now sees them host Toulin on Friday April 30 in the semi-final, a home record that now stands at eight on the trot, and having broken a 29-year run of home losses to Munster last year, there is no better time.
Last year Connacht’s historic 12 -6 win over Munster in the Galway Sportsground sparked great hopes that Connacht had turned a corner in their ambitions to play Heineken Cup rugby. However they put paid to any hopes when they stuttered at home against Cardiff and Llanelli. This year, however, Connacht have shown a far greater ability to eke out results. A year ago Connacht would not have overcome Bourgoin as they did last weekend when they were forced to overhaul a 14 - 20 deficit and carve out a victory.
Times are changing within this Connacht squad, which Bradley believes is the result of his maturing side.
“The most important thing is there is a lot of confidence and there is a good reason - it’s mainly due to the fact that the side is maturing, taking responsibility - that’s what happens when sides evolve,” he says.
While Bradley still has some injury concerns, Robbie Morris, Niva Ta’auso, Liam Bibo and Ray Ofisa - he is expected to keep faith with the majority of last weekend’s winning side. A couple of changes are likely, particularly to some players who have held their hands up over the last three weeks. Miah Nikora, who was Connacht’s hero last weekend with his winning drop goal, was one of those, having enjoyed a turnaround in confidence and form.
“Nikora was unfortunate in that the matches he played he got injured - he started four and didn’t finish any of the game because he was getting injured. So to come on and close out two games is great. What we saw in Miah before he came we can see now again.”
Bradley is also keeping tabs on Ulster’s result against Glasgow on Friday night.
“Ulster will have played two matches before we play Munster, so down the way we know what requirements are necessary and whether it’s possible or not to catch them in the Magners, and that will have a probably have a bearing on the approach,” he says, “But aside from that, when we talk about playing Munster or Leinster at home, these matches in themselves are massive for us, and there will be no issue in terms of motivation.
“ We look forward to it as an individual challenge, and again, as a means to an end in terms of a result in the season. You judge yourself by Ulster, Leinster and Munster matches. We did not do well against Ulster here and have to starting picking up derby matches and start on Sunday.”
Munster team manager Shaun Payne has said neither Doug Howlett nor Ian Dowling will be considered after picking up respective knee and hamstring injuries. However it is expected Paul O’Connell will captain the side if fully recovered from the groin injury that ruled him out of the Northampton game.
Bradley is once again urging Connacht supporters to turn out in numbers, emphasising their importance to a home victory.
“We put a big value on it and keep emphasising it. The last couple of years there have been sell-out crowds in horrendous conditions. Over the years there is a growing respect from Munster and having beaten them last year, it is something they were not happy with, but we are playing better than last year, and it’s a great opportunity to turn them over again.”
“We go into the match with confidence in that we have an effective game plan that can beat Munster. It is exciting times for Connacht Rugby at the moment. We have not got this far in recent history [in Europe ), we have a home semi-final which is fantastic as well, the crowd was excellent, and we are looking forward to Munster which is the target at the moment.”
