No Worcester worries as confident Connacht aim high

CONNACHT’S European qualification credentials will be tested today when they face Worcester in the first of two back-to-back fixtures at Sixways Stadium (3pm).

Connacht are in the driving seat with two wins, including an away victory over Montpellier, while favourites Worcester were rocked by the French side in their opening match at Sixways. So, if Connacht can overcome Worcester in at least one of these two fixtures – the second of which will be played in the Galway Sportsground next Friday – they will be within striking distance of topping Pool 2.

With only the five pool winners qualifying, where they will be joined by three Heineken Cup group runners-up, Connacht have never been in a better position since the 1997/98 season when they topped the group. And coach Michael Bradley says it is an attainable goal.

“Connacht do well in Europe, we seem to rise to the challenge, and if we win the group we can get a home quarter-final. But we have to take that opportunity and be quite focused on it.”

Connacht’s away record in the Magners League is hardly inspiring, but Bradley believes the two competitions are different: “You need to look at these two competitions in isolation. Connacht historically have done very well and enjoyed the European Challenge Cup, so that’s the way we look at it. We had Harlequins over here and Worcester, and beat both of them. We lost to London Irish, Sale, and Bath, but they were all good contests here, so we know what to expect.”

Although struggling in the premiership, Worcester held London Irish to a draw last weekend, and if they are to have a realistic chance of qualifying, they need this victory at home.

Coach Mike Ruddock has made two changes to the team that played Irish last weekend with new Scottish international Scott Grove returning to the centre, and hooker Chris Hortey taking over from Aleki Letui.

Big and powerful up front, they are led by their talismanic captain Pat Sanderson, while the boast Australian Chris Latham, former All Black Rico Gear, centre Dale Rasmussen (Tonga) and former Super 14 out-half Willie Walker in their backline.

Bradley expects Connacht to “stand up to their pack” and has named new signing George Naoupu at No 8 for his first start since arriving from the Highlanders, while Ray Ofisa takes over the number seven shirt from the injured Johnny O’Connor.

CONNACHT: G Duffy, L Bibo, N Ta’auso, A Wynne, F Carr, I Keatley, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris, M McCarthy, B Upton, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, G Naoupu.

Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, J Hagan, M Swift, M McComish, C O’Loughlin, M Nikora, T Nathan.

WORCESTER WARRIORS: C Latham, R Gear, A Grove, D Rasmussen, M Benjamin, W Walker, J Arr, A Black, C Fortey T Taumoepeau, G Rawlinson, C Gillies, T Wod, P Sanderson (capt), K Horstmann.

Replacements: J Page, A Lutui, O Sourgens, G Kitchener, J Collins, O Frost, M Jones, C MacRae.