Connacht eager to make hay while stars shine at World Cup

John Muldoon's face creases into a broad grin. The Connacht captain didn't hesitate for a moment when asked how he would feel about losing three of the squad to Ireland for the World Cup. "I'd be delighted . . . delighted."

Robbie Henshaw is a certainty, barring injury, to travel to England and Wales next month and he could potentially be accompanied by tighthead prop Nathan White and scrumhalf Kieran Marmion.

Muldoon understands the importance of Connacht being represented. Gavin Duffy was the last player to make a World Cup squad, back in 2007. “It would be history made because three lads have never made the squad.”

Something different

Muldoon offered an insight into the characters of first Marmion and then White. “I think Kieran, mentally he has matured a lot in the last two years. He’s very laid back. Nothing really fazes him. For me, he offers something different to maybe the other two scrumhalves.

“Nathan’s good. He’s had a couple of injuries lately and it’s been tough on him . . . By and large, though, Nathan would be very much a driver of our culture and our standards.

“He’s a former captain of Waikato and he exudes captaincy material. He’s a very positive influence on the props like Denis [Buckley] and Rodney [Ah You]. It’s no coincidence that we’ve a couple of props who are really stepping up to the mark now.”

Muldoon is convinced that were Schmidt to choose all three, Connacht would be well served by those left behind.

“We’ve got a much more balanced squad now, we have belief. You look at some of the younger fellas coming in; they have a spring in their step. When you can see these fellas knowing that they’ve got an opportunity and some of the older fellas, myself included, looking over their shoulder, then you know you’re in a good spot.

“There’s been a good edge to training, particularly leading up to the Munster game. There was a few lads very disappointed not to be playing. Training got hairy enough on the Tuesday, which was good to see: lads caring.

“With 21 games in 22 weeks, there’s going to be lots of opportunities. That’s what you want, a lot of competition to push on. It would be remiss of me not to think that we have to start the season well when a lot of teams are missing players. We want to be top six and it doesn’t have to be sixth. That’s what we’re saying.”