Big chance for Connacht to finish the job

THE first time Connacht secured back-to-back victories against English opposition was way back in 1997 when the minnows from the west famously overcame the might of Northampton on the double and went on to top their pool and secure a European Challenge Cup quarter final berth.

Although they have claimed notable English scalps on home soil since, last Saturday’s accomplished 26-21 victory over Worcester at Sixways was the province’s first on English territory in 12 years.

And this Friday night (7pm), the current Connacht squad have a chance of emulating that double achieved against Northampton all those years ago under the stewardship of Warren Gatland, when they face the Warriors in a crucial return leg – a home win against Guinness premiership outfit will almost certainly put paid to Worcester’s chances of advancing to the next stage while it will keep clear daylight between Connacht and Montpellier in pool 2.

Portumna’s John Muldoon remembers Tuesday September 9, 1997 vividly, as he was among the crowd at the Sportsground who witnessed Connacht shock the club rugby ‘order’ of the Northern hemisphere by toppling Northampton 43-13.

Muldoon was only 15 and had to mitch school in Portumna with a couple of friends and get a bus into Galway to make the historic occasion (the tie was unusually rescheduled from the Saturday and held at 3pm on the Tuesday because of the funeral of Diana, princess of Wales).

The victory had a lasting impact, awakened his interest in rugby and spurred him on to pursue a career in the sport. Now, aged 27, Connacht Captain Muldoon is looking forward to leading his side out onto the pitch at the Sportsground, where he hopes to steer his men to another notable success, and ever closer to that coveted quarter-final place.

With three wins out of three, including two massive away victories against Worcester and Montpellier, under their belts, that quarter-final place is within touching distance – surely only a Connacht slip-up can unravel their European Cup hopes now?

“That’s 100% right; our destiny is in our own hands. Unless we make errors and become complacent, our destiny is in our hands and the carrot of a quarter-final is there at the end of the road. It would be a huge thing for Connacht Rugby and supporters to have a big day out in April to look forward to with a good French side or a premiership side coming to the Sportsground for a quarterfinal.

We know what we have to do,” says Muldoon, who earned his first senior international cap against Canada in May.

Of course beating Worcester won’t nail down that quarter final place, but with a home match against Montpellier and an away tie against Madrid to look forward to, it will put Connacht odds on favourites to qualify top of their group, with an 80% chance of securing a home quarter-final.

And on last Saturday’s evidence, Connacht are more than capable of beating what looks likely to be a second-string, experimental Worcester outfit – Warrior’s Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock has one eye on a crucial Guinness premiership tie against Northampton next weekend, and said he will rotate his squad for this return leg in Galway.

But far from being pushovers, Muldoon feels a Worcester side with the shackles off, probably poses more of an attacking threat. “In a way, we won’t change our approach to the match at all. Worcester say they are going to rotate the squad and so they will change their game plan.

“They kick an awful lot of ball high into the air, which isn’t the most attractive style but it’s effective. But on Friday night I think they won’t kick as much and will probably run at us and they’ll be more threatening. They have strength in depth, and they will probably play a few young lads and we won’t know their names but they won’t be afraid to run with the ball, and they will be threatening. We won’t be taking them lightly.”

For more preview of the match see page 52 of the City Tribune or page 56 of the Connacht Tribune