Connacht v Leinster
Sportsground 7.35, TV: TG4
Connacht welcome the champions to an expectant Sportsground from the lofty heights of third place and in the giddy position of looking down on all three of their fellow provinces. Early days, of course, but after their relatively high-profile signings in the off-season, Connacht's opening brace of wins constitute a statement of intent which is good for both them and the Pro12.
It is perhaps premature to declare that Connacht have developed a winning mentality, but it’s funny how winning, like losing, can become a habit. The victories over the two teams who finished immediately above them last April, the Dragons and Edinburgh, may possibly have eluded them in that campaign, when they suffered seven one-score defeats in the league. Put another way, if three or four of those had been transferred into wins, Connacht would have been nine or 12 points better off and three places better off in the table.
If nothing else, the rearguard action which maintained their five-point lead over the Dragons, and the composure they showed in going to the corner and executing the maul try which gave them their one-point win in Edinburgh ought to benefit them in tight finishes to come.
The other curious aspect to this is that in keeping with perceived wisdom, experienced players, notably Dan Parks, had been signed with making the transfer from losers to winners in mind. Yet without the departed Parks and other seasoned campaigners like Frank Murphy and Gavin Duffy, and with Mils Muliaina injured, Connacht have won two tight games thanks in large part to the irreverence of youth and a backline with an average of 23.
En bloc
They are retained en bloc, with 22-year-old outhalf Jack Carty, who made his debut in the corresponding fixture on January 4th, starting only his fifth competitive game outside the relative veteran Kieran Marmion, 22, who plays his 56th consecutive game since his debut in September 2012.
Pat Lam’s only change to the starting line-up from a week ago sees Aly Muldowney replace Mick Kearney for his first start of the season alongside their Leinster loanee Quinn Roux in the secondrow.
Due to Sean Henry’s misfortune and the continuing absence of Jason Harris-Wright and Tom McCartney, the uncapped sub academy hooker Shane Delahunt is promoted to the bench, as is prop Ronan Loughney and Dublin winger Matt Healy.
Connacht are seeking three wins from their opening three games for the first time in the league’s history, but that perhaps underlines the scale of the challenge facing them against a Leinster side who underlined their strength in depth with last week’s six-try rout of the Scarlets.
Matt O’Connor’s team were vastly more ruthless at the breakdown than they had been a week before in Glasgow
. This enabled them to utilise their two playmakers, Jimmy Gopperth and Ian Madigan, in wider channels as they applied plenty of depth and width to their running game.
Strong bench
