Connacht relishing Brive challenge, says coach Jimmy Duffy

Connacht are raring to pick up where they left off in Siberia and take on Brive in the second round of the European Challenge Cup tomorrow.

Despite several players having to line out again after a nightmare three-day return from Russia, forwards coach Jimmy Duffy says there is no shortage of motivation this week.

“We’ve obviously had a long trip back, and there guys who have to double up from having played in the Enisei game into this fixture, but they have really pulled their weight.

“The players are relishing this challenge on the back of a good start in the Pro 12 and over in Russia, so there is big competition for places.”

Connacht continued their shortened preparations with a late afternoon session under floodlights yesterday and Duffy says the management had already done its homework on the French visitors.

“We as coaches had a really good looks at them we before went away and then touched up on their last game against Newcastle,” he says of the French side’s win in England by 14-9.

Connacht had hoped to leave 15 starters at home when they travelled to Krasnoyarsk in Siberia for last weekend’s European match in Russia, but due to injuries, some players will be forced to start again, including outhalf Jack Carty, who was on the bench against Enisei.

However those players who remained at home, including Ireland duo Robbie Henshaw and Nathan White, forwards Andrew Browne, Eoghan Masterson,and Connacht’s player of the month, Nepia Fox Matamua, and scrum-half Kieran Marmion are all expected to play against the French outfit, while injured players who are expected to be fit include Tiernan O’Halloran, Danie Poolman, Fionn Carr and Ben Marshall.