Connacht fullback Gavin Duffy is in line to play his 100th game for the province when the current Magners League champions Ospreys visit tomorrow evening (7.05pm ).
Duffy, who has been suffering from a back injury, returned to the Irish training squad this week, and Connacht coach Eric Elwood is hoping he will come through the training to take his place in tomorrow evening’s game.
The Ballina-born fullback, who enjoyed a three-years period with London outfit Harlequins before returning to his native province in 2007, is playing some of the best rugby of his career in the fullback position. Noted for his security under the high ball, Duffy has instigated many of Connacht’s best counterattacks, and tomorrow evening he will lead his province onto the Sportsground hoping to maintain Connacht’s fine home record this season.
Few challenges are tougher than that presented by the current league champions, and with or without their current Wales internationals, coach Eric Elwood says they are a formidable side.
“ They are impressive. They have a big squad, full of quality players - that’s the culture of the Ospreys. Yes, they are missing some of their internationals, but they will still have the guts of another 10 on the pitch because that’s the strength in depth and experience they possess."
That strength was demonstrated by their resounding victory over Leicester in the LV Cup, with a young XV running in eight tries, and Connacht's Michael Swift says Connacht will need to take the same attitude into Ospreys as they did against Samoa.
"We are entering an important part of the season so we need to get the wins and start climbing back up the table. That starts on Friday against the champions. They play high octane, a slighted unstructured game, so we will have to be on mettle."
With Niva Ta'auso out of action - although the good news is that he could be back earlier than anticipated - there is an opening for Eoin Griffin who equipped himself admirably against Samoa, and Elwood says players like Griffin will only "blossom" with more games.
"There is no point contracting players if you can’t trust them, no good putting them in for just friendlies. They need more game time, and you have to show faith in them. Players like Eoin need the exposure to push on."
With Ray Ofisa having an operation on his cheek this week, and with Mike McComish pulling up in training with a hamstring, it is likely captain John Muldoon, Johnny O'Connor and Mike McCarthy will form the back row. In the front row young Dermot Murphy comes in for both Sean Cronin, on international duty, and Adrian Flavin, who is out for four weeks with a fractured thumb. As a result Elwood has opted to utilise a front-row replacement as a sub-hooker if needed, more than likely Ronan Loughney.
"We looked around and ideally we don't want to go to another province, so we are going to try to manufacture a hooker within the squad for the week that is in it. We have been experimenting in training and it’s more about throwing into the line."
Once again Elwood is hoping the bigger crowds that have been attracted to the Sportsground this season return tomorrow.
"To be fair, the crowds are getting better. They have been good for the home matches and they came out in good numbers for Samoa which was nice to see. They do make a difference and this is a big game for us."
