After their most successful start to the season, Connacht return to the Galway Sportsground on Saturday (7.30pm ) to face Ulster in the first interprovincial of the season.
Traditionally Connacht’s closest rivals for Ireland’s third Heineken Cup place, Ulster come west after three wins on the trot and having spent big over the summer in recruitment.
Yet coach Eric Elwood believes his side is “in the right frame of mind for this game”.
“The lads know how important the derby matches are, but we are in a different position than in the past and hopefully we can take that confidence forward to Saturday. We would always fancy our chances at home and hopefully history will change itself on Saturday.”
However Elwood also believes Connacht supporters should not underestimate their value.
“You just need to talk to the boys. The noise that can be generated, even with 2,000 people, lifts the squad. We know from going to other clubs how intimidating the crowds can be and how they can influence the touch judge, the assistant referee, and even the ref. In tight ball games they make the difference - they can swing a decision and lift the players.”
Saturday’s head-to-head with Ulster could be hugely significant and Elwood says he cannot repeat often enough the importance of strong local support.
“We have been saying for two or three years that we have to show ambition. We want people to come in and support the team. We have a slogan ‘Your province, your team’ and yes, it is OK going to Dublin to march on the IRFU, but listen - just come down and support the team- that’s the best way to support us.
“All I can do is plead with people to come down, bring a friend, two, three or five friends. Everyone is trying hard here. The branch is fundraising and hosting events, the players are doing their bit, our facilities are constantly improving, the pitch is immaculate, but we have to push the boat out a little more and show real ambition if we want a professional team in Connacht.”
Elwood was disappointed with the number who turned up to their opening day 40 - 17 victory over the Scarlets, believing it is a “dilemma” that seems to haunt Galway sport.
“Be it Connacht, Mervue, Galway United, Salthill Devon, the Galway footballers or hurlers - it is all the same. I can’t answer it - but it is a little bit disappointing.”
Thankfully Elwood expects to have the same squad that travelled to Glasgow last weekend and won its first away match in two seasons. There are concerns with try-scoring ace Fionn Carr, Gavin Duffy, and Tiernan O’Halloran, and although Darragh Fanning and Aidan Wynne have been included in the extended squad of 26, Elwood is hopeful they will recover fully.
Saturday’s game is a real test of two sides who have started the season successfully. Ulster, fresh from their 29 - 21 over Edinburgh, have won all but one of their encounters with Connacht since 2003. With a talented backline that includes Andrew Trimble and Darren Cave, they also boast a strong pack that has been boosted with new South African signings, former Springboks lock Johann Muller and Pedrie Wannenburg.
"They have a lot of heavy hitters, good ball carriers, and the additions of the South Africans bring a physicality to their style of play. I would expect it to be very competitive in the contact area,” says Elwood.
"The important thing for us is that we are doing certain things very well, but we are not getting carried away because it's a derby match. We will be focusing on ourselves and we firmly believe if we do our work correctly in defence and attack, we will cause teams problems, and it’s the same this week.”
Connacht spent too long in defence against Glasgow, and holding onto possession will be critical on Saturday if the home side is to take control. However at the heart of last weekend’s win was a hugely impressive defensive effort, a never-say-die attitude, the ability of Fionn Carr to sniff out the try line again, and an immense scrum.
Sean Cronin believes Connacht will face the biggest challenge yet up front.
“Last week we managed to squeeze a few penalties from the scrum, which is always encouraging. Definitely our front eight have been working better and Dan [McFarland] has put in a huge amount of work in the last couple of years and it’s bearing fruit now. Hopefully that will continue against Ulster because whatever pack they put out, it will be strong.”
For a second week the final 10 minutes against Glasgow were a cliff-hanger as Connacht lived dangerously, and the Warriors’ replacement outhalf Duncan Weir had the opportunity to snatch victory with a drop goal.
Glasgow had retaken the lead in the 64th minute through the boot of outhalf Ruaridh Jackson whose only miss all evening was a conversion. But Connacht regained the initiative when they needed to most. From a defensive position and camped on their own line, Connacht claimed the penalty from the scrum, and a delightful touchfinder from Keatley set up territorial control. They wrested possession and set up the maul, Glasgow had no choice but to pull it down illegally and the outhalf stepped up to convert the penalty, with the lead changing hands once again. It gave Connacht a slender two-point lead which, on this occasion, they kept. Elwood will be hoping for more of the same against Ulster.
Connacht XV (possible, pending injuries ): G Duffy, T Nathan, N Ta’auso, K Matthews, F Carr, I Keatley, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan, M Swift, B Upton, M McCarthy, R Ofisa, M McComish.
