Healy eyes Connacht double delight

Dublin-born winger Matt Healy is hoping Connacht can do the double over Leinster for the first time ever in the history of the league.

Connacht defeated Leinster 10-9 at the Sportsground in September and will go to the RDS with confidence. Healy, in his third season with Connacht, is hoping the province take another step towards a first ever top-six finish. They will go into that clash on the back of a largely second string side carved out a superb 29-27 win in Bayonne in the Challenge Cup at the weekend.

“It was a great win that gives us confidence going into the Christmas period,” said the 25-year-old, who also has derby games against Ulster and Munster to look forward to.

“They are three big games we are massively looking forward to and that win in France gives us a lot of confidence going into those games.”

Meanwhile, with tongue in cheek, head coach Neil Doak said that, mathematically, Ulster are still in the Champions Cup.

But he knows all too well that he can know just concentrate on the Pro12 following a third reverse in Europe which now sees either Leicester or Scarlets hunting down holders Toulon for second slot.

Ulster still have a big part to play in Pool 3, with Toulon away and Leicester at home to consider when it comes to the final analysis. But Doak’s mind game will be to get positive results over the next three games against sides in the top half of the Pro12.

“Mathematically, yes, with 16 points we could squeeze out of our group. Obviously we have worried Toulon as they have switched their home game against us back to their home ground!” said a smiling Doak.

“It is so disappointing. We’ve been there or thereabouts in the last few years. I think if you look at the three games we have lost, we have given the opposition some pretty easy points. Align that with a couple of set-piece issues and us not being clinical enough in finishing chances off. That’s what happened on Sunday against Scarlets,” said Doak