Committed to keeping cool under pressure

RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE FION CARR INTERVIEW: Johnny Wattersontalks to the Connacht winger, who is joint top try scorer with four tries this season, ahead of Ulster's visit to the Sportsground on Saturday (7.30pm)

ULSTER WON’T admit to any feeling of well-being. But since the 2005-06 season they have enjoyed their trips to Galway. That year they lost. The following four seasons they won and are on something of a streak, last autumn a 3-20 score line at the Sportsground adding to Connacht’s miserable Magners League run.

This weekend Ulster come to the West flexing muscle. The province has a right to feel confident and powerful with three wins from three.

What they may see is a discernible change in the Connacht psyche.

No more poor Connacht, the runt of the IRFU litter.

Connacht don’t want, and aren’t looking for charitable status.

A drop in discipline against Scarlets in Wales two weeks ago took some puff out of their sails but Eric Elwood’s team bounced back. After that match they sat down and made an oath not to let it happen again. That same game Fionn Carr scored his first professional hat-trick. Bin that. Connacht lost the match.

“No I didn’t really celebrate because we were bitterly disappointed in losing the match,” says Carr.

“The defeat overshadowed everything. Yeah, I was delighted to get the hat-trick and it was nice to get one in the Magners League. But we knew that against the Scarlets our discipline killed us. We can’t lose two players in a game. We struggled and they picked up points in those minutes . . . a last-minute try killed us but we also opened them up as well.”

Carr has been good for Connacht and Connacht is being good to the winger. He’s on four tries this season, joint leader with Edinburgh’s Tim Visser.

Last season he was joint top scorer in the league but has yet to fully take the eye of Ireland coach Declan Kidney, although the Irish boss is sure to take note now as the form of last season has carried well over the summer.

Connacht are also catching the eye. Ulster’s tradition of breaking hearts around the Sportsground remains a telling tale of recent years, but Connacht’s reinvention, their changed coach and back-room staff, their recalibrated ambitions and current form point to legitimate reason’s not to feel threatened by an equally inflated Ulster squad.

“Last year it came down to a couple of points. Just a few points. We’d last-minute defeats, which is absolutely devastating for players and management. After Scarlets we made a commitment to keep our discipline,” says Carr.

“I know Ulster have beaten us in the past. This year the lads aren’t worried about the history. It’s an interpro derby. It’s a massive game. With respect to Ulster they are top of the league. They have made good signings. It is going to be a massive battle.”

Elwood’s influence on the team is a collection of adjustments and tweaks rather than complete revision.

His own status, his attitude to each player, and his astute innovations have ironed out some problems and offered opportunity to the players.

“He goes through every detail. He’s straight down the line and he tells you what to expect. He knows himself from playing. He fine-combs everything. There is no stone unturned and he is very direct with the players. I find that good. He has been dynamic and innovative and has brought different aspects to every area.

“You know pre-season we tried out things and we were trying to build for the first Magners League match. We’d a lot of meetings and goal setting. Eric brought confidence. He has brought a new freshness into the squad.”

Ulster may tell similar tales of rejuvenation and with their South African contingent now a substantial rump of the team, that in itself will have changed conventional thinking around Ravenhill and how the team plays. Cross-pollination of ideas works both ways.

Connacht have shipped a few knocks this week and will play a wait-and-see game on availability of players, while Ulster have left Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar on the sideline.

Most of the home injuries are niggles and Connacht need no telling of the importance of fielding a strong 15 players and bench.

“Ulster is coming down with a strong squad,” says Carr flatly before returning to Elwood.

“He lets us believe that we are good.”