THEY’VE DROPPED OUT of the top half in the Guinness Pro12, but Connacht head coach Pat Lam is adamant that a sixth-place finish is still well within reach for his side.
Despite taking just one win from their last five Pro12 outings — including an 18-point defeat to the Scarlets last weekend — a win tomorrow against the Dragons at Rodney Parade (4pm) will send Connacht back into the top six.
It was a dismal display in Llanelli last Sunday, but Lam isn’t pushing the panic button. He knows where it wrong and his players are ready to put it right.
“The review for us highlighted that everything’s fixable. We know we’re judged on the 80 minutes on the field,” said Lam.
“The 80 minutes we showed last week is not who we are and it’s not what we’re about. If we want to control our destiny, we need to get going this week and it’s a great challenge for us.”
The Scarlets overtook Connacht into sixth place following their draw with Munster today. When asked if that top-half finish is slipping away, Lam said: “No, not at all. We’ve lost the safety net but that just means we go one game at a time again and get as many points as we can.
“Instead of worrying about the outcome, you’ve got to look at your performance and, like I said from the beginning, do it as a team. When we try to play as individuals we are Joe Average.
“Is it getting away from us? No. It’s just a challenge and everyone has to step up.”
Lam has made three changes in personnel to his starting line-up, with Craig Ronaldson returning from injury at centre alongside Dave McSharry. Danie Poolman moves to the wing and Niyi Adeolokun drops to the bench.
With Kieran Marmion unavailable due to injury, John Cooney partners Jack Carty at half-back. Up front, Eoghan Masterson gets his first start of the season at the expense of George Naoupu at number eight.
Connacht opened their season with a win over the Dragons at the Sportsground back in September, and they were also victorious in the corresponding fixture in Newport last season.
But the Dragons will be buoyed by their big win over Leinster in Dublin last weekend, and victory tomorrow will see them overtake Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues in the table.
“They’re an in-form team,” said Lam. “They beat Leinster at the RDS, which no one’s done for a while, so we know the challenge we face.
“The only way we’re going to get those four points is go through our process of teamwork and putting Connacht pressure on, rather than individual pressure.”
Originally published 21 February, 9.40pm
Hopefully Mr ‘Not-Average-Joe’ Schmidt left some match winning inspiration in the Sportsground after the Ireland training session there this week.
C’mon Connacht.
I believe that ye can win.
Good luck to Eoghan Masterson. Deserves his chance to shine.
Was John Cooney not recalled by Leinster?
He was, but only briefly whilst Boss & Reddan were unavailable. He’s gone back again.
Results have gone our way over the weekend so just get it done! ! Could consevibly undo the bad run with a win @ Newport & @ home vrs Trevine & scarlets losing @ ulster- huge game vrs Newport…..