John Muldoon insists his Connacht men will rise to the challenge against Leinster

THE growing feeling in the west of Ireland that destiny is gazing favourably upon a Connacht team which has outperformed all expectations this season to reach tonight’s Guinness PRO12 Final at Murrayfield was reinforced by how preparations for the big match panned out yesterday.

While opponents Leinster were forced to leave out two influential players (after captain Isa Nacewa succumbed to an arm injury and second-row Devon Toner withdrew due to a family bereavement), Connacht were able to name an unchanged team for the first time this season.

On top of that, Leinster endured a frustratingly long-winded journey to the Scottish capital yesterday after their flight was delayed in Dublin and they then spent 20 minutes on the tarmac in Edinburgh before the squad could disembark.