Watching Connacht turn certain victory into a draw against Cardiff in Galway last Friday felt like the western team Irish rugby had grown accustomed to. The valiant losers, or in this case non-winners, were back on view.
Except they are not that so far this season and tonight should prove the Pat Lam has engendered a consistency momentarily squandered during that Sportsground end game.
Treviso are the Pro12 bottom feeders. On a zero from eight losing streak dating back to April, the last time they beat Irish opposition was this fixture last season.
But Connacht are a different animal of late. They are a squad that is relaunching Lam’s coaching career. Well, maybe.
Their only defeat was to Glasgow who are the Pro 12 pace-setters. They remain a band of exciting home-grown, or Leinster recruited, young players intermingled with Southern Hemisphere mercenaries. Quinn Roux is getting as much game time with Connacht as Denis Buckley. Both need it as both can become serious operators in any front five. Well, maybe.
With Gordon D’Arcy struggling to get a run of game time at outside centre, Robbie Henshaw is presented with another chance to become the established number 13 in Irish rugby. Joe Schmidt will be taking note.
“We travel this week without Nathan (White) who just missed out due to a minor neck strain,” said Lam. “Rodney (Ah You) and Denis (Buckley) return to start and are charged with looking after young Academy forward Shane Delahunt who earns his first start. It’s a fantastic opportunity for Shane who has come off the bench the last two games.
“Without the injured hookers Jason (Harris-Wright) and Sean (Henry) as well as the wait for Tom (McCartney) from his Auckland commitments, Shane joined the squad in pre-season and we have been very impressed with his attitude and work ethic.”
Delahunt’s promotion is what makes Connacht such a valuable entity. That and the fact they are threatening to become a consistent force. Win here and add Kiwi trio Jake Heenan, Bundee Aki and Mils Muliaina to the mix and they become contenders. Well, maybe.
