Back to basics for Cian Prendergast and Connacht

Cian Prendergast of Connacht scores his side's third try during the United Rugby Championship match between Dragons and Connacht.. Pic: Chris Fairweather/Sportsfile

Connacht haven’t changed their training roster or carried out any knee-jerk reaction in Christmas week to their shock 48-28 loss away to the Dragons at the weekend but captain Cian Prendergast said they are fired-up to deliver a performance when they take on Ulster in Galway on Saturday evening.

Temporary terracing has been installed behind both goals, bringing the capacity up to 6,000 for this game and that will also be in place next month when the new Clan Stand is opened for a capacity 12,000 crowd against Leinster on January 24.

Connacht, having won just two of their six URC games to date and still reeling from conceding 48 points in 45 minutes without reply against a Dragons team who hadn’t won a league game in 15 months, need to get back on track in the build-up to that game against Leinster.

Top priority now is the visit of Ulster to the Dexcom Stadium on Saturday evening and Prendergast says it is all about getting the basics right.

“For us, it's about delivering on the kind of stuff that doesn't require much talent. It's the physicality, it's the work rate, it's the energy you give to each other. It's kind of embodying the West of Ireland, I suppose.

“And then, really, it's about making sure that we can bring that connectivity, that free-flowing movement that we know we can play, but that comes off the back of the stuff I just mentioned there.” 

Prendergast, who could some up against his brother Sam twice when they play Leinster away and home in January, knows as captain he needs to set the tone.

“I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility to deliver a performance myself, but also I know what this province deserves. I know what the people of this province deserve, and last Saturday isn't what they deserve.

“And for us, it's on Saturday, and for me, it's about delivering a performance and the people of the West of Ireland, the people that are in the Dexcom, from the people that watch at home, can be proud of and can get behind it.

“It's just about focussing on what we can do to get the Clan behind us, to get the Connacht fans behind us, and really deliver on something that they deserve,” added the 25-year-old.