Poor start puts recent wins in gloomy light

EDINBURGH started with eleven internationals on Friday night, so for those who subscribe to the notion that this is the defining factor in every rugby game, conceding only 27 points in the first half wasn’t all that bad. Those same experts must be bracing themselves for an unmerciful hammering when Portugal come to Galway in a couple of weeks, as they will start with 15 internationals.Apologies for the cynicism but one gets a little tired of hearing this rubbish in the lead up to crucial games. Sure enough in a close contest when Connacht are playing at full pelt from the outset and beaten by a touch of class or some wily old composure - the experience of such players matters, but that wasn’t the case on Friday night where a seemingly unmotivated Connacht collapsed in the first half and blew four vital league points.Connacht are bottom of the table again and all of a sudden the period of uncontrolled giddy optimism is over. In fact, the bookies now have Connacht at 4/6 to remain there by season’s end. In a way, the October revival could turn out to be nothing more than what Wall Street traders call 'a dead cat bounce.’There are still signs that this is more than merely a brief revival. In Fionn Carr Connacht now have a pure finisher, in Keatley they have a talent in the making. in Muldoon they have a spirited leader and in O’Connor and Duffy they have experience. Technically, they have improved immeasurably, scoring six tries in four games all of which have come from open play moves with swift hands and good support lines aplenty. One gem against Leinster, three against Dax another beauty against Irish and two here – admittedly Duffy’s try was a straight-forward interception. However, in terms of team motivation, nothing ...