RUGBY AMLIN CUP SEMI-FINAL:THESE ARE fast times for Connacht rugby. Things change quickly. Coming into the weekend, the west of Ireland club looked to be careering towards a winner-takes-all basement match against Ulster in the Magners League.

The Celtic League, though, has had to play second fiddle to Friday night’s Amlin Cup semi-final match against mighty Toulon.

The moneyed heavyweights of the French rugby scene are guaranteed a hot reception when they run out on to the field on Friday evening. The weekend Celtic League results did nothing to dampen the mood around the club at lunchtime yesterday.

As Michael Bradley and a number of players filed into the boardroom for club duty, builders were busy adding to the terraces below. 6,000 tickets have already been sold for the Toulon match and club officials are confident the remaining 2,000 will be snapped up today.

Bradley admitted there was a sense of what-might-have-been about the Celtic League. But Ulster’s stunning 37-25 win away to Edinburgh saw them bounce clear of their Irish rivals in the lower reaches of the league table. And with the Connacht management obliged to field an inexperienced side against Scarlets, they went down by 58-10.

“You have to acknowledge that it was an excellent win and performance by Ulster. It would have been great to go to Ravenhill for a winner-takes-all. That is not going to happen. They got their five points and put paid to that and we have to congratulate them.

“In terms of what we can do, it makes things clear. But you have to acknowledge the semi-final of a European cup is a great thing to be involved in and it is a big day for our team and our supporters and the fact that it is here in Galway is huge. The tickets will be sold out tomorrow, which is an excellent backdrop to the day. So we are looking forward to that before playing Ulster.”

The loss of flanker Ray Ofisa Treviranus in that Scarlets match was arguably as grievous a blow as the defeat itself.

Bradley confirmed the Samoan will not play on Friday because of his ongoing problem with vertigo.

Robbie Morris also picked up an injury in that match but it is anticipated that he will recover in time. Centre Keith Matthews, who went over on his ankle against Leinster, is the main concern.

Injuries are always critical to Connacht’s fortune; more than most professional European clubs, they simply cannot afford to lose key personnel.

That was why most of the established squad members spent this weekend resting rather than travelling to Scarlets for what would usually have been a monumentally important game.

But a European cup semi-final takes precedent.

As Bradley noted, talking about Friday night’s opponents, Toulon had the luxury of signing 17 new names for this season, a spree that has been reflected in their domestic season. However, it was significant he preferred not to dwell on the disparities in wealth and personnel between the two clubs.

Asked why he felt this season had taken such a bright turn for Connacht, he referred to the fact so many key figures opted to sign up for the province again.

“We said in the past that, unless you have all the money in the world, you need to be able to build. And for the first time in a long time, Connacht have been able to keep a squad together and then whatever the circumstances, that is critical.

“The lads obviously enjoy playing with each other and for Connacht and that is the future for the club. That has been critical to us.”

Anyone who saw Bradley’s animated demeanour during his side’s jubilant win over Leinster would have understood he is as engrossed in the squad performance in this, his last season, as he was in his first.

He politely declined to speak about his own feelings about leaving the club after this season, saying this week was about the players and about facing Toulon.

And when talk turned to the “uncertainty” over Connacht contracts with the IRFU, he stepped in before the players who flanked him at the press conference had a chance to form their thoughts.

“I just want to jump in and say that from the players’ point of view, the focus is Toulon, Friday night. If we want to have a political discussion at a later date, we can do that.

“The players and management at Connacht rugby club will do our job. At the moment, the situation is one-year contracts and the process is being discussed with a view to a long-term solution and that is the way it is.”

It was a fair interjection and in keeping with the Connacht attitude of late.

They have not permitted themselves the luxury of excuses and have been approaching games with a bullish mindset that has brought them to the threshold of a European final.

Bradley could not have sounded more relaxed as he spoke of what promises to be a magical occasion for Connacht.

“This is a cup game. Anything can happen in these one-off situations. The Sportsground is a difficult place – it has very unusual surroundings now for a professional side to come to.

“The crowd will be in full voice, they have been great. Wayne Barnes is refereeing the match, we know him well. He speaks our language. These are all positives. So it is a really good place for us to be in.”