Duncan Williams hoping to lay down marker

JOHN FALLON

Duncan Williams is hoping for the perfect birthday present this week as he bids for victory over Connacht on Saturday in Galway. Williams turns 28 today, having picked up the first of his 67 Munster caps against Connacht at Thomond Park in December 2009 and he is hopeful that they can wind up their preparations for the Heineken Cup semi-final with a win at the Sportsground.

“It will be a tough game, Connacht have a pretty good home record. They’re coming off a bad defeat like ourselves last week and no doubt they will be up for it, there are two teams going in for action.

“We need to win the next three games to guarantee a semi-final place. It’s a tough ask but if we bounce back after last week we can get back on track,” said the Cork man, who came through the Munster Academy after school in CBC.

Williams said that while the focus has been on the Connacht game, guys know they are also playing for places against Toulon in the Heineken Cup semi-final.

“We’re in two competitions and we need to win this week to guarantee our future in the Rabo, so Toulon is next week and we’ll concentrate on that from Monday.

“But some of the lads have been waiting for the last couple of weeks to get a run, so I think there will be a lot of people out there busting to get a run and put their hands up to get a run against Toulon. I think everyone is itching to get a game and hopefully that will be reflected in the scoreline,” he added.