SPORTSGROUND MATCH Connacht v Glasgow Warriors:THE IMPORTANCE of this game cannot be overstated. It may even define Eric Elwood's first season in charge of his native province. A defeat certainly will.
As Connacht’s recruitment process continues, with difficulty as seen from the need to seek IRB clarification over the Ireland eligibility of recent signings from Wales Matthew Jarvis and James Loxton, and considering the imminent departure of Fionn Carr, Ian Keatley, Seán Cronin and Jamie Hagan from this evening’s line-up to pastures new, this match is effectively an advertisement for the western province.
Both are locked on 21 points in 10th and 11th position in the table with nine games to go, making this an eight, potentially 10-point affair.
Defeat would represent a massive ink stain on Connacht’s season and probably confine them to the bottom rung of the Magners League ladder yet again (Aironi must win a game to be considered genuine members of the competition).
Form indicates Connacht can win, while the Warriors have lost three on the bounce but the return of outhalf Ruaridh Jackson from Scotland duty will strengthen their hand.
“There is a lot of pressure on us to get the result we need,” said coach Sean Lineen. “We have to get back to winning ways and we know that.”
The presence of Jackson and perhaps Jonnie Beattie at number eight provide quality but there is nothing that Connacht should fear.
In the continued absence of injured flanker John Muldoon, another native son, Johnny O’Connor, leads the team, with Ray Ofisa operating at number eight ahead of Mike McComish.
From an Irish context Gavin Duffy may still hold aspirations of some game time in the Six Nations, although the return of Tommy Bowe to full training this week lessens that significantly.
Cronin has been released from the squad to get a run out after all too brief, if significant, cameos in a different shade of green.
Considering the glitches in the Ireland lineout against France, the young hooker remains a viable candidate to start at Murrayfield. Everyone knows by now that he will carry with menace and pace that Rory Best cannot match but it is a flawless lineout that is required to push Cronin up the pecking order.
Venue: Sportsground Kick-Off: 7pm, tonight
CONNACHT: G Duffy; B Tuohy, N Ta'auso, T Nathan, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan; M Swift, M McCarthy; A Browne, J O'Connor (capt), R Ofisa. Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, R Ah You, B Upton, M McComish, C Willis, M Nikora, S Monahan.
WARRIORS: B Stortoni; H O'Hare, F Aramburu, P Murchie, D van der Merwe; R Jackson, C Gregor (capt); R Grant, F Thomson, E Kalman; A Muldowney, T Ryder; R Harley, C Forrester, J Beattie. Replacements: F Gillies, J Welsh, K Tkachuk, R Wilson, C Fusaro, H Pyrgos, D Weir, P Horne.
Referee: T Hayes(WRU).
Verdict: Connacht to win.
