Nel confident Connacht heading in right direction

STEPH NEL likes the odd smoke of the pipe and at half-time at Donnybrook last Friday he was sorely tempted to light up.

However, by the end of the game his Connacht side had brought off an unlikely victory over Celtic League champions Leinster and the celebrations took on a different twist.

Nel has got on with a tough job to bring Connacht into line with the other three Irish provinces. Inheriting a squad regarded as much weaker than the rest, Nel and his charges have made a bright start to the season.