RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE: Connacht v EdinburghLARCENY MIGHT be a tad overstating matters but Connacht's performance in defeat against Leinster at the RDS merited more than verbal consolation. The western province produced an entertaining expansive, intelligent display choc-full of high-quality rugby only to be undone by sheer misfortune.
Gavin Duffy did not punch Fergus McFadden – it was a robust shove to disengage himself – and therefore should not have received a yellow card. Seán Cronin came within millimetres of glory while the discrepancy in the penalty count between the teams in such a tight game appeared a little off kilter.
It would be criminal for Connacht to follow up such an excellent performance with an insipid display, a trend that has surfaced on too many occasions. The home side have not lost a game at home since last September and with their Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Bourgoin tomorrow week, it’s a record they’d like to continue. There is also the not inconsequential motivation in that Edinburgh walloped the Irish province 62-13 earlier in the season.
Coach Michael Bradley makes a couple of changes behind the scrum with Troy Nathan coming into the centre and Ian Keatley restored to outhalf; Miah Nikora drops to the bench.Cronin and Jamie Hagan did a fine job of addressing scrum problems when introduced the last day and have been retained in the line-up while Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy and Mike McComish are further changes to the pack.
A side-bar to the main action is the battle of the respective left wings, Fionn Carr (Connacht) and Tim Visser (Edinburgh), who head the Magners League try-scoring stakes with seven apiece. Carr’s brace the last day confirms there isn’t a quicker, natural-born finisher in Irish rugby.
Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat has made four changes reintroducing Scottish internationals Allan Jacobsen, Jim Hamilton and David Callam while centre Ben Cairns has recovered from a hamstring injury and reclaims the number 13 jersey in the absence of the injured Nick de Luca.
CONNACHT: G Duffy (capt); B Tuohy, T Nathan, A Wynne, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan; M Swift, B Upton; M McCarthy, J O'Connor, M McComish. Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, D Nolan, A Browne, Conor O'Loughlin, M Nikora, E Griffin.
EDINBURGH: J Thompson; M Robertson, B Cairns, J Houston, T Visser; P Godman, M Blair (capt); A Jacobsen, A Kelly, G Cross; S MacLeod, J Hamilton; A MacDonald, R Grant, D Callam. Replacements: R Ford, K Traynor, S Turnbull, S Newlands, G Laidlaw, D Blair, S Webster.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales).
Verdict: Connacht to win.
