Things falling nicely into place for Bradley

RUGBY CONNACHT'S PRE-SEASON:A 24-8 PRE-SEASON win over a Harlequins side that Michael Bradley readily acknowledges was missing several of its frontline players, will not have the Connacht coach swinging from the chandeliers just yet.

Even so, it was an encouraging victory after the defeat at home to Leeds the week before, especially as Connacht's crop of young Irish players have all announced their arrivals impressively.

There's been a clear change in emphasis out west in the close-season, Connacht enjoying more success in their targeting of indigenous talent, signing one full international (Kieran Campbell) and three A internationals (Frank Murphy, Seán Cronin and Ian Keatley) as well as an under-20 international (Fionn Carr).

They have also obtained the finishing abilities of ex-Wasps and Glasgow winger Mike Roberts and the imposing 100-kilo Samoan centre Niva Ta'auso, who is expected to arrive from Otago in late September or early October.

Having started 28 players in the two games to date, as well as employing rolling subs, Bradley has achieved his primary objective of getting all his injury-free players on the pitch.

"Now we'll narrow the focus a bit, especially for the Queensland game on Tuesday week," he said.

The latter comes just four days after Friday's game at home to London Welsh but was too big a catch to turn down, prompting Bradley to remark: "Four (pre-season) games is probably a half too much, and three is a half too little."

Enthused by what he believes is greatly increased competition for places this season, especially in the back line, Bradley commented: "Seán Cronin had a particularly good game, which puts pressure on Adrian Flavin; Fionn Carr and Mike Roberts played well against Leeds, which puts pressure on the wings; both scrumhalves had good games and Ian Keatley had a fine game, which puts pressure on Andy Dunne. And that's what all coaches want - competition in a squad."

In particular, Keatley made an eye-catching debut, augmenting a couple of penalties by converting the try by the Ireland A centre Keith Matthews (after a superb break by Murphy) and landing drop goals after 60 and 71 minutes before a late, mauling try by the new captain, John Muldoon.

Despite Connacht being officially "the development province" and having the funding to match, in truth the IRFU and the other provinces have only played lip service to such a notion.

By birth and as a player Bradley may be a son of Munster, but he is now in his sixth season as Connacht coach and has clearly been frustrated in previous attempts to sign fringe or developing players from other provinces and thereby fulfil the "development province" remit.

Accordingly, he cited the early pre-season form of Cronin, Keatley, Carr, Murphy and Campbell and noted: "These are players who weren't getting sufficient game time where they were. Now they've put themselves in the shop window.

"You'd have to feel sorry for the lads on development contracts who probably won't get a game all season with the other provinces," ventured Bradley, before adding pointedly: "They must be scratching their heads."