Connacht braced for Toulouse backlash

HEINEKEN CUP POOL THREE:

The kings of Europe’s qualification hopes are on the line after Connacht turned this pool on its head with their 16-14 win in Stade Ernest Wallon. It was a result coach Guy Noves described “as the worst moment of the season”.

The coaching doyen is hoping his side “will be a different team” this evening and, to that end, he made seven changes for this second of the back-to-back Heineken Cup fixtures. Although currently joint leaders in the pool with Saracens, another loss would most likely end any hopes of claiming a record fifth European crown.

Connacht’s challenge is to prove last weekend’s performance was not a one-off, and Lam is hoping the sell-out stadium will boost his side’s chances. Hit by the injury to the talismanic Michael Swift and a flu virus which has spread through the squad this week, Lam has made three changes to his starting line-up. Jason Harris-Wright and Rodney Ah You replace Sean Henry and Nathan White respectively in the front row, while the big-hitting Eoin McKeon starts at eight for George Naoupu. Andrew Browne comes on to the bench for Swift.

Just how much the flu bug has affected Connacht’s squad is being kept a closely-guarded secret but Noves is taking no chances and has brought in a number of French internationals including winger Maxime Medard for former All Black Hosea Gear, the experienced Lionel Beauxis for the young out half Barraque, and scrum half Jean-Marc replaces South African Jano Veermark.

Noves has also beefed up his pack. Schalk Ferreira and Christopher Tolafua join Census Johnston in the same front row that caused the damage in the scrum against Saracens, while Yannick Nyanga comes in for Yacouba Camara.

It’s little wonder then that Lam accepts Connacht have to raise it to another level against “a pretty angry team and seasoned internationals”.

“Last weekend’s game was the biggest challenge we faced as a team, and we overcame that, but now we’re up against another massive challenge,” he said. “We’re playing a vengeful Toulouse who will come here determined to turn around last week’s defeat.”

Although the European competition has inspired Connacht to produce some notable performances — most recently against Harlequins two seasons ago — Connacht’s lack of consistency has always been an issue for a team lacking resources.

On-field captain Craig Clarke says Connacht will need to follow Toulouse’s lead and take another step up.

“We are talking about Toulouse bringing more to the table, but if we are serious about this game and this competition we have to bring more to the table to those areas where we need to bring it.”

Clarke says although the run of defeats has been broken, the improved standards cannot now drop.

“Now we have won a big game, the dynamic is different, but good teams can embrace that, but still be demanding of each other and not let the hype and overall standards drop away.

“After Edinbugh a lot of questions were asked and we were probably a bit more honest within the group and a bit more brutal. The challenge coming off a good win is to not let that honesty and demand of each other slip away.

“Yes, we are very excited that we won a big game and we have given ourselves a chance to be in contention for better things, but we are very realistic that this is a game we just have to go out and perform in.”

Two seasons ago Toulouse provided the dream first Heineken Cup fixture for Connacht at home in front of 9,120 supporters. However former coach Eric Elwood admitted after Toulouse’s 36-10 victory that Connacht had given the French side too much respect at the start. There should be no fear of a repeat this time round.