Nothing other than victory over Toulouse will keep Connacht’s Euro hopes alive

Connacht out half Jack Carty who is set to return to the team for Saturday's European Champions Cup tie against Toulouse at the Sportsground.

placeholder image — Connacht out half Jack Carty who is set to return to the team for Saturday's European Champions Cup tie against Toulouse at the Sportsground.

IT really is familiar territory – a poor performance in the league right before a crucial must-win clash in Europe. Down through the years, Connacht have tended to buck the trend in these fixtures and surprise teams with their ability to change gears. They’ll be looking for history to repeat itself on Saturday as French champions Toulouse arrive in Galway for the round five Champions Cup clash (3:15).

If the four-time European winners know their history, they would do well not to read too much into recent poor Connacht performances. Spending too much time dissecting the defeats in Ulster and Leinster from recent weeks could be a fool’s errand as the home team that takes to the field on Saturday will be a much-changed outfit from what we saw in those one sided defeats in Belfast and Dublin.

Injuries and enforced rest periods for the two World Cup squad members meant Connacht’s squad was stretched to breaking point over Christmas and boy did it break, conceding 13 tries in two away games and being fortunate that both opponents eased off somewhat during the second half of the one-sided drubbings. However, the number of players returning to action this weekend will lift the spirits of all involved.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash, Connacht are regarded as outsiders but by no means no hopers. From the side that lost to Leinster, there could conceivably be up to eight changes with key players returning. Jack Carty, Bundee Aki and Matt Healy will all strengthen the backline options, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Jarrad Butler and Colby Fainga’a are all set to bolster the pack.

That said, the majority of the 23 who are in action on Saturday will have been involved during both Christmas defeats and their confidence and self-belief must have been stretched to the limit in recent days. Head coach Andy Friend thinks it’s the kind of test of character that they should relish.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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