Connacht eager to put best foot forward against French visitors
IT may be a foregone conclusion in many pundit’s eyes but Connacht assistant coach Nigel Carolan insists the province will be putting their best foot forward when they face one of the worst teams in Europe – French side Oyonnax – in their final Challenge Cup group game at the Sportsground on Saturday (2:30pm).
Having already topped their Challenge Cup group and secured a home quarter-final, Connacht are firm favourites to claim a big win against a team that has only won once in the Challenge Cup this season – and, indeed, has only one victory out of 15 games in their own domestic league, French Top 14.
Given the disparity in both sides fortunes at present, Carolan acknowledges the biggest thing Connacht has to guard against is complacency. Connacht are expected to win – and win big. “It is an expectation we put on our own shoulders as well,” he says.
“We know that on any given day we have the ability to perform really well and I think that has been our major downfall at times – that level of consistency. When we start games well, we can kick on and dominate sides.
“When we don’t start particularly well, we don’t get scores on the board early. It creates that sort of a dogfight and that is something we want to avoid this weekend particularly against a side who are very dogged and are used to fighting for their life at the bottom of the Top 14.”
Conceding there is a level of disappointment surrounding Connacht’s 24-24 draw against Worcester last weekend – a game they were also favourites to win, which would have surely secured them a home semi-final berth as well – Carolan notes the beauty of this fixture is that it allows the squad to put that behind them.
“Any time these guys get an opportunity to play at home, it is an opportunity to perform and prove themselves – as players, to the team, and to the fans who have been extremely loyal,” remarks the assistant coach, who underlines Connacht are still in a very healthy position despite last weekend’s draw.
“We have a strong group of players to pick from this weekend but we want to finish this block of games on a high. I know there are a lot of permutations (in terms of still securing a home semi-final if they qualify) but we are not looking that far ahead.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.