Pat Lam urges Connacht charges to keep focus for Thomond Park test

Connacht coach Pat Lam says his side have planned how to pick up a first win at Thomond Park since 1986 and it’s down to ignoring the individual strengths of Munster.

Connacht have not beaten Munster at the Limerick venue since the advert of professionalism, but their 16-point victory at Thomond Park in pre-season friendly has given Connacht a small taste of what it takes to win there.

Munster have not lost in Thomond Park since last December’s Champions Cup reverse to Clermont Auvergne, but the Connacht coach feels now is the time for his side to graduate to claiming inter-pro wins away from home.

“I think that’s been one of the big changes, certainly for myself and John Muldoon. Let’s just worry about what we can control.

“We have a good plan in how we can beat this team and making sure that everyone does their jobs. If we do that, then history takes care of itself.”

Speaking at the launch of Connacht’s new Green Lantern jersey, Lam insisted that his side are comfortable as Pro12 leaders. Six wins from seven league games — the same return as Munster — sees them lead Saturday’s hosts by a point in the standings, but you get the feeling that the next few weeks are the test of Connacht’s mettle.

Saturday’s game and the away trip to Cardiff that follows could reveal if Connacht are realistic leaders and possible winners of the competition. “It’s not something that we pay attention to, because it’s a long way to go. Top of the table now means nothing until you’re near the top come May,” said Lam.

“We were there in that top four and the top six last year too and we fell away at the end, so we know that to look at it now is foolish. Our focus is to look at this game as purely four points, and two teams have a chance to get that four points.”

If Connacht do go on to win on Saturday, it will be an impressive achievement, especially considering the mini- injury crisis that has enveloped the province.

Second-rows Andrew Browne (hand laceration) and Quinn Roux (broken nose), hooker Tom McCartney (hamstring), and scrum-half John Cooney — who faces three months on the sidelines after shoulder surgery — are all definitely out.

There are also serious concerns surrounding the availability of Dave McSharry, Eoin McKeon and Ben Marshall (all concussion) and winger Danie Poolman (hamstring). Lam still has faint hopes that flanker Nepia Fox-Matamua’s possible anterior cruciate ligament injury might not prove as serious as first thought.