The forthcoming URC match against Leinster is a defining moment for Connacht, posing perhaps the greatest challenge to them as they face a Leinster team smarting from their loss in the Champions Cup final.
For Connacht to break into the top eight, additional outcomes need to favour them. Nonetheless, Pete Wilkins, their head coach, believes his team must step onto the RDS Arena fully ready to engage in battle.
Following a defeat of 12-16 to DHL Stormers at their previous Dexcom Stadium encounter, Connacht finds themselves in the 10th spot, four points lower than Emirates Lions, Benetton and Edinburgh – teams set to face each other next. Wilkins concedes that even a victory may not guarantee progress.
“It’s like a grand final for us. It’s our own doing that we find ourselves in this predicament. We can’t point fingers at others, and we can only hope some other matches unroll in our favour,” he admits.
Following Leinster’s painful setback to Toulouse in the European Rugby Champions Cup final, Wilkins asserts that Connacht has no room to provide their opponents with any advantage.
“We’ve collectively considered this as a coaching panel and team – determining the appropriate mental outlook for the game.
“Previously, we may have tried to assess our opponents’ motivation or mindset too much, only to find something within the initial five minutes of the match can often overturn that. So we need to tread carefully, but it would be downright foolish not to acknowledge their recent tough loss.
“Leinster is a powerful team, a fact we learnt first-hand in a previous match at Dexcom. Starting swiftly is therefore crucial. We look forward to the challenge, knowing that in the opening 15 minutes, we will take the measure of the situation.”
Shane Jennings and prop Denis Buckley are potential additions to the line-up. However, the return of Mack Hansen is still uncertain due to his ongoing shoulder recovery, and Matthew Devine, the scrumhalf, will remain unavailable due to a rib injury.