Connacht's task looks too much on night of high emotion

THE FAITHFUL will rise for the John Hayes one more time, but otherwise it is your typically devalued interprovincial holiday outing. Munster coach Tony McGahan has been denied access to Ronan O’Gara, Conor Murray, Paul O’Connell and Donnacha Ryan (who on this evidence is ahead of Donncha O’Callaghan in the national lock pecking order) by the IRFU management programme. It represents an opportunity for Tomás O’Leary, and O’Callaghan to a lesser extent, to make up lost ground in their respective positions.

The shame about Hayes’ departure is when his number does come up midway through the second half it will be a South African, and not an Irish prop, going the other way.

This is not the case in other positions. Seán Scanlon makes his senior debut at fullback and Luke O’Dea comes on to the wing as they aim to fill the void of long-term injured Felix Jones and Doug Howlett, while Keith Earls continues his candidacy for the Ireland outside centre berth. Damien Varley (shoulder) and Denis Leamy (hip) are given time to heal before next week’s meeting with Ulster.

Connacht don’t have that luxury. The only change from their agonising defeat in Gloucester sees Fetu’u Vainikolo replace a hamstrung Mark McCrea on the wing.

Eric Elwood’s side will have taken positives from the performance (if not the manner in which the late try was conceded). However, for their press release to label it as a “rich vein of form” that indicates the “elusive win is just around the corner” reads like unnecessary straw-clutching. The facts are undeniable: Connacht have lost 10 games on the trot because they are miles from a rich vein of form. At least Niall O’Connor is showing some form at outhalf. His head to head with predecessor Ian Keatley should prove interesting.

Connacht will attempt to disrupt what will be an emotional tribute to Hayes. That in itself seems like yet another challenge that will prove too much for them.

MUNSTER: S Scanlon; L O’Dea, K Earls, D Barnes, S Zebo; I Keatley, T O’Leary; M Horan, D Fogarty, J Hayes; D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll (capt); B Holland, N Ronan, P Butler. Replacements: S Henry, D Kilcoyne, BJ Botha, I Nagle, J Coughlan, D Williams, S Deasy, T Gleeson.

CONNACHT: G Duffy (capt); F Vainikolo, E Griffin, D McSharry, T O’Halloran; N O’Connor, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, E Reynecke, R Loughney; G Naoupu, M McCarthy; D Gannon, J O’Connor, J Muldoon. Replacements: A Flavin, D Rogers, R Ah You, M Kearney, E McKeon, P O’Donohoe, M Jarvis, K Tonetti.

Referee: D Philips (IRFU).

Verdict: Munster win.