A Connacht-Edinburgh game has never carried so much importance. While a second win in 42 attempts over Munster will take some beating, this fixture could come to define Connacht’s season every bit as much.
Never before have so many final league places in the Guinness Pro12 carried so much relevance, and this is emphasised by tonight’s clash between sixth and eighth in the table.
As things stand, with teams from Ireland, Wales and Scotland above them, but with one of the Italian sides to be shoehorned into next season's Champions Cup, Connacht currently occupy the seventh and last qualifying place, with the Scarlets and Edinburgh in hot pursuit.
Connacht captain John Muldoon expressed the hope in the wake of beating Munster 24-16 on New Year's Day that they could start to look up rather than over their shoulders, but that will be altogether more feasible if they put some further daylight between themselves and Edinburgh, whom they lead by eight points.
Four points
A win would also propel them into the top four play-off places again, for a night at any rate. Were Glasgow also to win tonight at home to the Scarlets, who currently trail Connacht by four points and host Pat Lam’s team when the League resumes five weeks’ hence, that would leave Connacht very well placed indeed.
Lam makes just one charge to the starting line-up from the win over Munster, with the experienced Miah Nikora selected at outhalf in place of Craig Ronaldson who remains sidelined with concussion. The fit again loose-head prop Ronan Loughney and outhalf Jack Carty are both named amongst the replacements.
“We need another four points this week,” said Lam. “Looking at it, we don’t believe it’s a case of ‘backing up’ the Munster win, but rather a case of being even better again in our performance this week.”
Tough conditions
“Edinburgh, under astute coach
Alan Solomons
, are a very powerful and direct team who have shown against top teams like Glasgow and Munster away from home what they are capable of. Like last week, we are expecting tough conditions as well as big, physical contact.”
This must be regarded as something of a win-or-bust mission for Solomons’ team. They also arrive on the back of a 20-8 home win over Glasgow, which earned them their first 1872 Cup success for six years on an aggregate of 26-24 over the two festive derbies.
Solomons makes two changes in personnel to that starting line-up, with Willem Nel replacing John Andress at tighthead, while Roddy Grant moves to the blindside with Hamish Watson coming into the starting XV on the openside in place of Mike Coman.
Scottish-qualified triallist outhalf Jade Te Rure could be in line to make his first appearance off the bench. Edinburgh will also be seeking to avenge their only home defeat of the season so far in round two.
“We have taken note of Connacht’s victory over Munster,” said Solomons, “and their unbeaten home record and appreciate that we will have to be at our best to come away with the spoils.”
Tough job
“Our aim is to try to make the top six and it’s a massive game against Connacht. But to get the win (against Glasgow) was really important. The significance of this game should not be lost. Glasgow have set the pace and I think that over the last few months we have started to close the gap.”
Edinburgh have suffered five Pro12 defeats in a row on the road, but four wins in their last five games in all competitions suggests their form is on the up. They won here two seasons ago, their only win in their last five visits, and three of the sides’ last five meetings have been one-score affairs, including a one-point win apiece.
Connacht may not welcome the forecast of heavy wind and showers but will simply have to get down and dirty much like they did against Munster, with John Muldoon, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw and co leading the charge, and with the same voracious appetite for clearing out.
In many respects, this fixture will test Connacht’s professionalism more than an Irish derby. Another big crowd will help, and if they are to look up rather than behind them, and so make the transition into genuine contenders, they need to win here.
