Despite the big freeze Connacht are expecting the St Stephen’s Day Magners League clash with Munster to go ahead at the Sportsground. Weather forecasts suggest a thaw on Christmas Day and the straw which helped prevent the frost setting in for Friday night’s clash with Harlequins has been put down again and for the moment at least appears to be working according to Connacht CEO Gerry Kelly.
“Given the evidence of Friday, it certainly worked. This morning we looked at the ground under the straw and there is no frost on the ground, we’d be very confident that the straw will continue to prevent the frost getting into the ground this week and with a more favourable forecast for the weekend we’re confident it will go ahead.”
However, the news emerged yesterday that skipper John Muldoon will effectively miss the entire season after breaking his forearm in the Harlequins match when Connacht’s Challenge Cup hopes ended on Friday night with a 15-9 defeat at the Sportsground. Their qualification hopes were already hanging by a thread and even a victory probably would not have saved them, but the manner of the defeat will be hugely frustrating.
Connacht are struggling to turn possession and territory into points but Friday was also highlighted some discipline issues with a high penalty count and two yellow cards. It was the westerners’ third home defeat of the season and their sixth defeat on the bounce, so understandably head coach Eric Elwood was frustrated with the latest setback.
“We were disappointed, because we felt we played very well at the Stoop and had created a lot of chances without taking them, so we had been very much looking forward to the game at home and we saw it as an opportunity to get that win on the board but we were disappointed at how we performed.
All the scores came in a penalty-riddled first half. The typically brilliant Nick Evans almost effortlessly kicked five from six for the visitors although Connacht had some answers to his efforts, Miah Nikora kicked two penalties, while Ian Keatley slotted a fine long-range three-pointer as well.
Elwood has plenty of injury concerns ahead of the weekend, John Muldoon (arm ) and Brett Wilkinson (head ) are both definitely out.
As well as that Johnny O’Connor (back ), Gavin Duffy (back ), Michael Swift (head ) and Niva Ta’auso (ankle ) are all going to be monitored this week but for now the hope is that all four will be passed fit for the game. Elwood feels it’s the ideal game for the team to lift the spirits after recent defeats.
“Ideally we would like to be coming into this off the back of a couple of wins but there is no doubt these are the games that lads love to play in and I have no doubt that they will respond to the recent defeats against Harlequins with a big game.
Connacht have now lost six games on the bounce and face Leinster on New Year’s Day but the spirit is still positive in the camp. Elwood is expecting a forward battle against Munster.
“We will have to take them on up front to beat them, I don’t think the game this weekend will be any different from recent encounters, they’ll be strong at the breakdown. Their scrum is a talking point but I have no doubt they’ll ask us questions there and it is always an area where you have to challenge them.”
The team have been using the all-weather training facility behind the clubhouse but overall the weather has curtailed training. They will meet on Friday for a short session and reconvene for the game on St Stephen’s Day. Munster have lost just once to Connacht in the Magners league, a 12-6 defeat in 2008 at the College Road venue.
