Connacht boost Cup hopes

CONNACHT’S growing determination to keep their Heineken Cup hopes alive was epitomised by a huge hunger against title hopefuls Leinster in the Galway Sportsground last evening.

In a top-versus-bottom fixture, Leinster may have turned up expecting to seal their home semi-final, but instead they found themselves under the cosh from a Connacht side determined to avenge their earlier defeat at the RDS. And, forced to play this match at Leinster’s behest despite appeals for a postponement till their European semi-final was concluded, Connacht were in mood to succumb a second time.

Showing eight changes from the side that lost to Munster, coach Michael Bradley gave many of the players who faced Leinster in Dublin a second chance, and they were not found wanting.