Time for Connacht to deliver, declares Lam

They have finally been given the tools, now it is up to Connacht to deliver the goods and thereby ensure young stars such as Robbie Henshaw stay on board.

That was the view of captain John Muldoon and head coach Pat Lam as they looked forward to a new campaign which will see exciting backline talents including Henshaw, Kieran Marmion and Darragh Leader come under the considerable influence of incoming All Blacks legend Mils Muliaina.

The IRFU’s sanctioning of the 99-times capped New Zealander’s signing, as well as the captures of Chiefs centre Bundee Aki and Blues hooker Tom McCartney, was a significant coup for a province used to playing fourth fiddle behind rivals Leinster, Munster and Ulster. It also followed Connacht’s retention of 21-year-old Henshaw, widely regarded as Brian O’Driscoll’s long-term heir at outside centre, for a further two years.