Elwood banking on Connacht revival

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood has backed his side to revive their Amlin Challenge Cup hopes against French outfit Bayonne at the Galway Sportsground tonight.

After their shock defeat to Cavalieri last weekend, the western province have an uphill battle to qualify for this season’s European quarter-finals.

And Elwood isn’t downplaying the importance to this tie. He said: “For us to have a chance, we need to win this game. We have bounced back in the past and I have no doubt that we will again. But it will be a big challenge.”

Elwood has recalled his first-choice front row back with Sean Cronin and Jamie Hagan returning to action alongside Brett Wilkinson.

In the second row Elwood has opted to start the more physical Mike McCarthy in place of line-out specialist Bernie Upton, while Johnny O’Connor is moved to the blindside to accommodate Ray Ofisa with captain John Muldoon at number eight.

In the backs Keith Matthews, Frank Murphy and Gavin Duffy are in the starting XV, while Darragh Fanning, who made his debut against Cavalieri, is retained with Troy Nathan on the bench.

Elwood continued: “We didn’t use some key players last weekend because of injures, so thankfully those guys are back. Bayonne are a very good side.

“They have invested heavily and brought in quality players, so no matter what squad they send over here, they will be extremely physical. They pride themselves on their forward pack, but they have exciting players behind the scrum, so it a huge task for us. But we relish those challenges when our backs are to the wall.”

Bayonne arrive as Pool One leaders, having seen off visitors Harlequins 16-12 on the opening weekend.

The Pays-Basque club has enjoyed a huge turnaround in fortunes since escaping relegation from the Top 14 last season due to Montauban’s bankruptcy.

With a €3.9m increase in the previous budget, now €15.9 million, and the recruitment of 13 new players, they have enjoyed victories over reigning champions Clermont Auvergne, Toulon, Agen, Brive and Bourgoin.

They have made eight changes to their starting XV from last Sunday, but still boast seven internationals, including former All Black Troy Flavell and Tongan prop Tonga Lea’aetoa, while South African Sam Gerber is a dynamic ball carrying inside centre.

However Elwood is hoping his players can “put the wrong of last weekend right”.

“Unfortunately we haven’t made it easy on ourselves,” he said. “We had a bad result, we know that. Now we know what we have to do, and hopefully we will see the rewards on Friday.”