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.

Fuelled by desire and an impressive goalkicker their results have been impressive: Nel says of Eric Elwood: “He’s like a good wine, a good South African wine. We aspire to get to the point where the other provinces are at the moment.

“We’re not jealous of what they have achieved but we do desire to be up there with them. We have quite a young squad and have some fantastic players. All they need is the experience to go with the enthusiasm.

“That’s why our victory over Leinster was so important to us. We have come close on a couple of occasions but didn’t quite get it right. That victory last weekend was a big one for us.”

Not that Nel was going ballistic about it. “I reckon we felt all along we could give them a run for the money. We did have good wins over Scottish and Welsh opposition in the previous weeks so we didn’t feel intimidated about playing an Irish side.

“Still, Leinster are very strong. We knew it was going to be tough and in the end we had to grind out a victory. The problem for us is that, despite our three successive wins, we haven’t picked up a bonus point in the competition.

“My view is that we have to be even more aggressive and, in the matches we are winning, we’ve got to pick up a little extra.”

The Connacht coach fully recognises that Leinster and Munster have had to suffer a bit in the Celtic League because of demands placed on their players by Irish coach Eddie O’Sullivan.

“For that reason, we in Connacht have to keep our feet on the ground. It has been much easier for me than either Matt Williams or Alan Gaffney because all of my players have been available from the start of the season.”

On Friday, at the Sportsgrounds in Galway, Nel has another chance to pick up the victory and a bonus point if needed.

James Norton, who has played at Schools, U19, U21 and at Students level for Ireland, will make his debut for Connacht at full-back for their Celtic League encounter against Newport (kick-off 5.45pm).

Mark McHugh, whose injury-time drop goal saw Connacht defeat Leinster 26-23 at Donnybrook on Friday night, has been called into the Irish squad to play Russia in a World Cup qualifier.

As a result Nel has called up 21-year-old Norton for his debut as Connacht attempt to continue their winning run which has seen them win all three games to date in the competition against Borders, Cardiff and champions Leinster.

Gavin Duffy, full-back for Connacht last season, is still out through injury.

The only other change to the side is at open-side wing-forward where Colm Rigney is selected with Paul Neville being named among the replacements.

Two players are back in the squad after injury with hooker Marnus Uijs and flanker Johnny O’Connor named among the replacements.

Munster will name their team to meet Swansea at Musgrave Park after a training session in Limerick this afternoon.

Without the services of the Irish squad members they are now, however, to be denied anyone else through injury. At least so far.

Leinster coach Williams has put back selection of his team for the clash with Cardiff on Saturday until later in the week.

Eric Miller, Shane Horgan and Emmet Byrne could, however, be back in the team.

CONNACHT (v Newport): J Norton; T Robinson, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt), W Munn; E Elwood, C Keane; D McFarland, J Flannery, P Bracken; W Waugh, R Frost; M Swift, J O’Sullivan, C Rigney.

Replacements: R McCormack, M Uijs, E Peters, J O’Connor, E Reddan, S Moore, M McPhail.