Connacht enter new terrain this Saturday when hosting Glasgow in a reprise of last season’s semi-final in what is a meeting of the last two Guinness Pro12 champions. This will most likely prompt a different mindset both from themselves and their opponents.
"Teams will be looking at us a bit differently now," admits Kieran Marmion, one of the key players in last season's remarkable march to the title, who has played in all bar eight of Connacht's 90 Pro12 games in the last four seasons.
“Every game is going to be a big game now, because they’ll be coming after us, I guess. Hopefully we can get off to a good start against Glasgow. They’re one of the tougher teams in the league but if we could beat them that would put us in a good place for the rest of the season.”
Indeed, the need for another strong September is highlighted by a particularly taxing October in which derbies against Ulster and Leinster sandwich their opening European Champions Cup games at home to Toulouse and away to Zebre. But Marmion believes Connacht are in a good place. "We're going to try and continue where we left off last season," he says, in reference to the 16-11 and 20-10 wins over Glasgow and Leinster which sealed their first major trophy.
“We’re looking to push on and make our game even better, and bring in a few things which will take us to the next level, because I think if we stay where we are teams will catch up with us.”
To this end, Connacht’s focus has been on further improving their individual skills “and getting used to structures and making it second nature really”.
Delayed return
Like his fellow Irish tourists to South Africa, Marmion’s delayed his return to pre-season at the end of July means he has had virtually no game time in pre-season. At the end of the tour, the Welsh-reared Marmion flew to New Zealand to see his twin brother, Liam, who plays on the wing for Nelson, for a fortnight before spending two weeks in Wales. Hence, having played 102 games for Connacht since making his debut in the season opener against Cardiff in 2012, he may well make a relatively gradual return to action this season.
The 24-year-old won his sixth cap in the second Test in South Africa, and as well as improving his form with Connacht, wants more game time with Ireland. “I just need to scratch up on the basics of my game, my passing and kicking; if I can make that as good as I can it will help me in every situation. However good it is, it’s never really good enough.”
No less than Connacht generally, Marmion knows he needs to take his game onto another level. John Muldoon has been announced as the Mazda Brand Ambassador as part of Mazda's continuing role as car sponsors of the province. Mazda will also be sponsoring Connacht All-Star Rugby Clinic, confirmed for Carton House, on Sunday October 9th.
