This evening’s clash at the RDS will be Pat Lam’s 98th in charge of Connacht and it is safe to say that he still has little difficulty coming up with a cause for his men each time they go out.

You would have thought Connacht’s bid to get their first points of the season would be the primary focus of this encounter, but the surprise midweek departure of Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons has changed the dynamic of this clash.

Rob Kearney has opened up on his disastrous 2015/16 season, admitting the drip feed of injuries left him heartbroken and even uncertain as to whether his playing career had found a cul de sac.

Connacht and Ireland Prop Nathan White has been forced to retire.

Connacht coach Pat Lam says although his side are bottom of the PRO12 standings, their team spirit and unity will count for a lot when they look to bounce back this weekend.

The immediate response on the final whistle at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was one of acute disappointment given Ireland finished this gruelling series camped on the South African line after a 19-phase onslaught in search of what could have been a winning score and a series clincher. It was that tight.

You just wonder what was going through Joe Schmidt’s mind as he boarded Ireland’s flight from Heathrow to Cape Town last Sunday night. 

The smile is wide and the voice still hoarse from the celebrations but for Ultan Dillane, the enormity of Connacht’s Pro12 title success has still not quite registered.

Joe Schmidt will not be taking any passengers on Ireland’s daunting three-Test tour to South Africa having yesterday named a squad of only totally fit players.

Sold out two weeks ago, this final round of the Guinness PRO12 at the Galway Sportsground is unprecedented territory for Connacht.

Coach Pat Lam believes Connacht will provide new signing Cian Kelleher with the shop window he needs to fulfil his ambitions of playing for Ireland.

Connacht need only one point from this evening’s PRO12 fixture in Italy to guarantee a semi-final spot. But coach Pat Lam will want more, such is the expectation on Connacht to deliver a bonus-point winning performance.

As Joe Schmidt named a 44-man squad to take part in a 24-hour training camp this weekend, Conor O’Shea was backing Ireland to cause an upset and beat the Springboks in South Africa this summer.

Connacht are suffering yet another injury headache with outhalf AJ McGinty ruled out for a month ahead of Friday’s meeting with Ulster in Belfast.

A massive litmus test awaits Connacht this evening when they host Leinster at the Galway Sportsground (5.15pm).

Connacht boss Pat Lam doesn’t believe Robbie Henshaw will be affected when he comes up against his prospective new Leinster teammates in this weekend’s Pro12 top-of-the-table clash.

For a small town, Enniskillen has given birth to more than its share of international sportsmen, amongst them Olympic gold medal sprinter Robert Kerr, champion heavyweight boxer Gordon Ferris and ex-Celtic goalkeeper Michael McGovern.

“They’re all Irish players to me”, said Joe Schmidt on Saturday evening.

From frustrated father, watching the France game on his phone, to facing England at Twickenham a fortnight later, even a player as experienced as Mike Ross can find the fasttrack return to Test rugby a little trying.

Jack McGrath believes Ireland’s scrum has no choice but to face England’s heavyweight pack head on at Twickenham today and is relishing the prospect of a front row battle royale.

ENGLAND:

Donal Lenihan looks ahead to Ireland's clash with France.

Ireland are confident both Sean O’Brien and Rob Kearney will be fit to face France next Saturday, and management could be set to receive a further boost with a possible return to action for frontline props Mike Ross and Cian Healy.