Time for Connacht to show their self-belief

Eric Elwood's men must be totally focused as they lock horns with European aristocrats Toulouse tomorrow, writes LIAM TOLAND

WHEN PAUL O’Connell bounce passed the ball to his match winner Ronan O’Gara I thought it was all over. But then Michael Jordan stepped up to the three-point line and popped it over. With O’Connell’s bounce pass and Martin Johnson’s even bigger bounce pass it has become a week of secondrows. During the week I was asked what makes the Heineken Cup so special. In short, many things do but for me it is the role of the secondrow that illustrates the dream that is European glory.

I was involved with Munster as the first tentative steps into Europe were being taken. Munster’s opponents this weekend bring the role of the secondrow back into focus because in November 1995 Munster travelled via London to Castres. I was a considerable distance from Castres at the time but a seedy, nasty atmosphere awaited Munster’s arrival and the match was no different as the breakdown in particular was not the sanitised version we experience today.

In the cauldron that evolved it was a secondrow who stood tallest. Michael Galwey is many things but Devon Toner tall is not one of them. But as Paul Brady sings If you see yourself as small, then that's how tall you will be. That comes to mind with Galwey (and by extension, Connacht).

Leading from the front, as was his wont, Galwey met the welcome head on, literally. A French boot came down hard on his head and it forced intervention. On the sideline Galwey was still panting, with adrenaline flowing, as Dr Len Harty (half the former’s size) stood very tall to examine the wound. He soon knew Galwey’s game was over so he summoned him into the dressingroom.

Galwey asked, “What for?” “To get stitches, shower and dressed,” replied Harty.

“Doc,” Galwey directed, “staple me up now.” “Why,” enquired Harty.

“So I can go back out and get the ‘gentleman’ that just got me.”

And that’s exactly what happened where Galwey, fearless for life and limb, started the great Heineken Cup odyssey. He was only prepared to go in one direction – forward.

I’ve looked very closely at all provincial secondrows last weekend to see what’s coming through. O’Connell stands out head and shoulders above the rest, leading from the front, leading at the breakdown and driving his team on. However, in the Stoop last Friday night another secondrow caught my eye.

Michael Swift’s performance was sensational, akin to Galwey’s away to Castres. Yes, the Connacht backrow was superb and so too recently-capped Mike McCarthy but in Swift they had a towering Heineken Cup performance, not for the carries or the lineout but because he put his body totally on the line.

Lineout wins, rucks hit, tackles made (10 by Swift to O’Connell’s 8) are all easy to measure. There was however method to his madness that’s hard to quantify. How much power he put through the scrum only the frontrow can say but it was his physicality at the breakdown and in particular when ’Quins were building momentum and pace that saved Connacht’s outside defenders no end. Do centres David McSharry and Eoin Griffin realise the value 120kgs flying into an immature attack has on easing their defence?

Like last week, pace is the key factor at the Sportsground tomorrow. Harlequins upped the pace several times last weekend and Connacht slowed it down at source. ’Quins did so in two ways. They assumed Connacht were vulnerable to pace and width from a quick ruck ball. This they managed a few times but when Connacht struck back with the Tiernan O’Halloran try, ’Quins went on to up the pace through pick and drives, up the middle.

Again they were able to generate tempo. The challenge for any team playing Toulouse is there rarely exist two obvious methods of going forward. Toulouse are built to create space and then exploit it. Where on the pitch and when that actually occurs is the question Eric Elwood will be asking himself this week.

Toulouse do however have a number of systems. They rewind the blindside at will. Their lineout, whether in defensive or attacking positions, is shortened quite often. When it is they will target a backrow receiver.

They particularly target number eight, South African Shaun Sowerby. He pops up all along the line in a similar but less skilled version of France’s Imanol Harinordoquy. Sowerby is also devastating in defensive lineouts where they throw him up all over the place. Toulouse operate a three pod defensive system, so Connacht must be very accurate.

As Toulouse put monster tighthead Cencus Johnston at the tail consistently, Connacht should expose the big man with blindside wingers in that space.

Johnston can be pressurised at scrum time and no doubt Dan McFarland will be targeting him. How Connacht play off the scrum should show an insight into their ambition but George Naoupu needs to get front-foot ball.

Toulouse linchpin Luke McAlister is certainly in for a rude awakening. The All Black was very flaky last week against Gloucester. He missed place kicks but unforgivably two penalties to touch. Where ’Quins outhalf Nick Evans was very comfortable, McAlister struggled to find the floating wide pass to unleash his outside backs. As Connacht struggled in multi-phase defence they went for the big hit to stop ’Quins in midfield. Toulouse will want to expose this but McAlister doesn’t have the same range of pass that Evans has. Connacht should entice McAllister him down the tracks to play rugby and hammer him.

Toulouse have the ability to patiently knock on every door before rushing through the open one that’s going to unlock Connacht. With Australian Luke Burgess at scrumhalf, they go right, then left, then wide, then over the top, then long while all along the Toulouse team float in tandem. Connacht’s scrumhalf must be very vigilant in tracking back.

Clement Poitrenaud’s every intervention is sensational. He constantly carries in both hands and always sucks in double defenders which is very dangerous as Connacht have a habit of going for the killer hit. Connacht must be disciplined at 12, 13 and 15 in not over-committing in the hit.

It will take a monumental effort at the breakdown where Swift and co must find the immediate balance between overcommitting for ball-retention purposes and running out of attacking/defending players. Toulouse target a ball steal at every breakdown.

The mindset of this momentous match will be crucial. McAlister’s flakiness must be tested long before the Toulouse backs and bench can exert influence. We might also get to see French scrumhalf Jean-Marc Doussain.

I’ll be in Galway tomorrow night and to borrow Paul Brady’s words, Connacht If you see yourself as small, then that’s how tall you will be.

liamtoland@yahoo.com