Absence of key men leaves Connacht facing huge task

EUROPEAN rugby returns this weekend after a disrupted campaign and Connacht find themselves in a new-look Challenge Cup with a last 16 knockout tie against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Saturday, kicking off at 8pm. If they can upset the odds and win that game, a home quarter final awaits but outside of the Sportsground, very few people will be expecting anything other than a home win.

Highlighting the pessimism isn’t meant to be a knock on the men in green, it’s just the reality of circumstances. Leicester are on the up in terms of form while Connacht have lost three on the bounce and will be without their captain Jarrad Butler and two prominent internationals in Bundee Aki and Quinn Roux. Those names are etched into team sheet templates for knockout cup games like this. Andy Friend acknowledged as much during the week.

“Leicester are a very good side, one thing in our favour is our away form has been good this year, but this is knockout rugby and they are a team that have really found some very good form, so it’s a different challenge. It’s fair to say that those three players would certainly be featuring you would imagine, but over the last three years we’ve been building a quality squad for players to step in when this happens, so I’m excited by the team we can select.” said Friend.

A win is not impossible that’s for sure, but even at full strength, Connacht would be looking to buck a bad trend when it comes to competitive games in England. Away wins there are like hen’s teeth, you have to go back to 2010 for the last one away to Worcester. Exciting performances and gripping passages of play have been plentiful, but the ability to turn that into headline grabbing results has proven beyond sides from the west under a multitude of different coaching teams.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.