Radical moves afoot to gain fresh respect for game in the West

As with his predecessors before him, Warren Gatland has quickly discovered that whatever problems beset other provincial coaches they're in the ha'penny place when it comes to those which traditionally envelop poor oul' Connacht.

Ever the cinderella province, with nothing like the traditional base which the others have, Connacht battle on gamely against all the odds. Whenever they attempt a bit of an uprising their players are still invariably ignored by all manner of national selectors and so Connacht becomes a leg-up on the provincial ladder.

Brian Carey and Shane Leahy are the latest examples. Having made a big impression last season when Connacht missed out by one score in failing to qualify for the European Cup, their backs' most potent runner and their pack's most potent ballwinner have moved on to supposedly greener fields with Leinster and Munster.

These losses undermine Gatland's attempt to reward loyalty with contracts for all those players from last season, to establish consistency "and develop Connacht."

"I can understand why they left. I think they were really happy with Connacht last year but they've come under pressure from a few people to move and that's something you just have to live with at the moment. I just hope that after Saturday's game (at home to Munster) that Shane Leahy will regret his decision."

So Leahy's presence at the Sportsground will add some spice then? "Oh, I'm sure it will do," says Gatland in that New Zealand drawl of his, adding mischievously: "I will ensure it does."

Connacht have been down this road before, what with the Simon Geoghegan-Dave Curtis-Jim Staples axis returning with the Exiles. But apart from their progression to the national team, Connacht have been continuously ignored and Gatland repeats a lament similar to those of George Hook and others.

Despite a reasonable season, with only Munster standing out from the rest in the interpros, "Connacht couldn't get one player on the Irish development tour. I mean, what kind of message does that give to our players? Move and go somewhere else where you can get recognised. That's why Brian Carey and Shane Leahy have gone." And before them, Victor Costello and others.

Undeterred, Connacht have regrouped, signing two New Zealanders and bringing on a host of promising young players such as Pat Duignan. Ask Gatland for Connacht's objectives this year, he says: "I think for me and the players it's a matter of earning respect. It's still the public's perception and other teams' that Connacht are an easy touch, so our aim is to go into games with the opposition fearing us for how we can play."

Now beginning the first of a three-year contract as Connacht's director of rugby after an auspicious start in coaching with Thames Valley and Galwegians, Gatland's long-term goal is "to get a full-time team of players with the size, strength and speed that can compete locally and internationally at representative level. In three years I'd like to think we can compete with a side like Richmond on an equal footing. I might be dreaming, but that's my dream."

In the shorter term, and on a more tangible level, earning one of the three qualifying places for the European Cup seems a realistic goal. "I'd be disappointed if that doesn't happen," he says, citing their narrow miss last season. Would Connacht have been ready for the European Cup? "No, definitely not. But I don't think the other provinces are ready."

Besides, Connacht have arguably a relatively tougher European draw in the Conference, with not a Scottish or Italian opponent in sight. Instead they meet Northampton, Nice and Begles/Bordeaux. "But it's more of a long-term goal and that's why I think we're not going to get any better unless we play quality opposition."

For that reason he would warmly embrace the concept of a mooted Celtic Cup between Irish and Scottish provincial sides, and Welsh clubs. "As it is we go from good preparation, playing interpros and the Conference, back to playing mediocre club rugby, and that's not going to do anybody any good."

The need for fully professional provincial squads and the continuing haemorrhage of our best players to England are, as Gatland sees it, the biggest problems facing Irish rugby - with the drain abroad merely a continuation of what Connacht have suffered for years.

Gatland accepts that despite having 21 part-timers, the bulk are based in Dublin and so therefore this imposes bigger logistical problems for him than other provincial coaches. Biting the bullet by financing professional provincial squads is a must. He cites the lack of time to view the video of Connacht's last two games collectively, so he had to watch it and convey his thoughts at one of two sessions this week. Welcoming the introduction on the club front of a top four play-off in the AIL this year, he would also favour the Kiwi scoring model of four points for a win, two for a draw and bonus points for scoring four tries or losing by less than eight points - as he would with a revamped and relaunched Interprovincial Championship. At his initiative, Connacht themselves will unveil a new green, white and black strip this Saturday.

"The game's taken a radical change and it's time to get rid of the traditionalism and get forward into the 21st century. That's the way you've got to approach it," says the New Zealander.