Evans wary of Connacht threat

Harlequins boss Mark Evans expects a fierce challenge from Connacht tomorrow when the London club target their second European final appearance in four seasons.

Quins take a nine-point lead into the Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final, second leg encounter at Galway Sportsground.

At stake is a place in next month’s final against Bath or Montferrand, and Quins know that Heineken Cup qualification is guaranteed if they lift the trophy.

“The first leg at The Stoop was every bit as difficult as we had expected it to be,” said Evans, whose team were European Shield winners in 2001.

“Connacht are a very good team, they have a tremendous pack of forwards and some very clever backs who are more than capable of creating try-scoring opportunities.

“On top of that, they possess two good goalkickers in Eric Elwood and Mark McHugh, and will no doubt have a very vociferous support at their home ground.

“Having said all of that, we have a nine-point advantage and we know that if we play to the best of our ability, then we have every chance of winning the game and progressing to the Parker Pen Challenge Cup final,” he added.

“We have some fine players of our own, who in the last two games have scored 10 tries and created a number of other scoring opportunities.”

Quins though, have lost the services of hooker Tani Fuga, with the Samoan international collecting a seven-week ban after being cited for stamping against Connacht a fortnight ago.

James Hayter replaces him in the front-row, while centre Mel Deane, fly-half Paul Burke and flanker Pat Sanderson all return from injury lay-offs.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley knows that it will be some achievement to overhaul Quins’ advantage, but he is relishing the contest.

“There were no surprises for us in the first leg,” said Bradley. “We already knew they were competitive from one to 15 and like to play the game at real pace, and that is just how it was at The Stoop.

“We won’t be chasing the deficit from the start, just establishing our patterns and taking it on from there. Thankfully, we have no injury worries.”