European Challenge Cup, Connacht v Sale: The issue of Sale having the first leg of Saturday's European Challenge Cup semi-final switched to Galway has now been parked. For the moment anyway.
Connacht were initially drawn to play the first leg away from home but, following ERC intervention, it was discovered that Stockport County Football Club, with whom Sale share a ground, were playing Brentford on the same date as the first leg.
The fixtures were then reversed so that Connacht played their first leg at home and second leg in England.
Everyone agrees that when chasing a cup final spot, the best place to be is at home in the second leg. The question being asked now is how hard did Sale try, if at all, to get Stockport to change their soccer fixture?
"As far as I'm concerned it's an ERC matter. They told us there was a problem between Sale and Stockport.
"I accepted their bona fides. Obviously we would have preferred the away fixture first," said Connacht CEO Gerry Kelly. "Now our main focus is on the match."
The ERC are aware of the disquiet over the fixture reversal but are holding to the agreement.
"Really it came down to TV," said ERC communications manager John Corcoran. "There was the opportunity to get both legs of both semi-finals broadcast. We checked and discovered that Stockport had a match and the ground was not available. The switch was made following consultation with Connacht."
So coach Michael Bradley, reluctant to be drawn into the matter, will make just two changes to his starting side for the first leg with Sale at the Sportsground on Saturday.
John O'Sullivan returns from injury to the backrow to replace Paul Neville, while John Muldoon reverts to blindside flanker. Peter Bracken also starts in place of Stephen Knoop in the tighthead prop position.
On the bench Michael Swift and Paul Warwick return from injury to take a place on the bench beside Brendan O'Connor, who has returned to the squad following a stint with Ireland on Sevens World Cup duty.
One of the hardest calls for Bradley was at outhalf where Eric Elwood starts, while top points scorer Paul Warwick watches from the bench. "Eric fits in well with the side," said the coach yesterday. "Paul Warwick has been out for the last five weeks because of injury. Both of them have performed well for the team and we're just lucky to have two players of such quality."
Any suggestion that Connacht will be overwhelmed by Sale, who are unlikely to have injured England captain Jason Robinson playing with them, are lost on Bradley. The team are prepared for a stiff challenge but one they believe they can meet.
"Throughout the second half of the Celtic League we have been playing full-strength sides," he says. "There will be no fazing of the team by the players they (Sale) might have. I think we are used to that now.
"No we're are not expecting Jason Robinson to be fit for the first leg. Jason is a big factor in their attacking play and, without wishing him any ill-will, it would be an advantage to us if he was not on the field. Even if Jason doesn't play we will have to be very focused to put one over Sale."
The crowd is going to be another influencing factor on the outcome and Bradley appreciates just how critical that can be over the next two matches.
"We've a massive month coming up," he says. "One of the ways of getting into the European Cup is to win the Challenge Cup. A big crowd, a full house will be a hugely important factor. It was last season when we played Harlequins."
CONNACHT: M Mostyn: C McPhillips, D Yapp, M McHugh, D Slemen; E Elwood, C Keane; R Hogan, J Fogarty, P Bracken, C Short, A Farley, J Muldoon, M Lacey, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: B Jackman, D McFarland, S Knoop. M Swift, B O'Connor, M Walls, P Warwick.
