Connacht set to mix and match for Challenge Cup encounter with Newcastle
Published:
-
-
Author: Keith Kelly
~ 3 minutes read
From this week's Galway City Tribune
IN a way, it is hard to know what to make of Connacht’s bonus-point win over Treviso last weekend, a result that keeps them in the hunt for a top-eight finish in the URC and qualification for both the league play-offs, and possibly the European Champions Cup.
No-one in their right mind wants to lose a game, but it leaves the province with decision to make as they take a break from regular league action this weekend to take on Newcastle Falcons on Saturday in the European Challenge Cup in the Sportsground (5.30pm).
Connacht’s Jekyll & Hyde start to the season – four wins in nine games and just three bonus points – means they have work to do to make the upper echelons of their own league, but achieving that is very much in reach, as they are ‘just’ three points off the pace at the half-way stage in the league.
It also means that they can’t go full-tilt at Europe, and they are clearly accepting that themselves: although the squad for Saturday won’t be announced until lunch-time the day before, Connacht have already confirmed that Finlay Bealham, Dave Heffernan, and Cian Prendergast will be absent as part of an IRFU protocol requiring all international players to sit out two games from the block of nine following the resumption of club action after the November internationals.
“There is healthy competition for selection, we have a few internationals away on holidays as well, so it does open it up to the squad, and it opens up to a squad that has been training well and has been training hard,” scrum-coach Colm Tucker said this week.
“You have to manage guys through the season, it is something last year that towards the end of the season, guys were a bit banged up, so we are very focused on that this year in terms of managing loads on players, so I think you will see some familiar faces out there mixed with some new faces, which is very positive for us,” he said.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
More like this:
Carrabane pupils to feature in online magazine with rap about Sustainable Development Goals
The work of pupils from Carrabane School has featured in an online magazine. It features the work...
Over 400 organ donors and families in Salthill to be honoured in ceremony in Salthill
Over four hundred organ donor recipients and their families will be celebrated at a special cerem...
Galway’s Boston Scientific and Merit Medical awarded best in class for Workplace Wellness
Galway’s Boston Scientific and Merit Medical have been awarded best in class for Workplace Wellne...
Interim CEO appointed at Galway Chamber
An Interim CEO has been appointed at Galway Chamber. Deirdre Mac Loughlin is currently a member o...
Loughrea company aquired by leading pharmaceutial and life sciences company
Neylons Facility Management, based in Loughrea, has been aquired by a leading pharmaceutial and l...
Glenamaddy student wins top prize at SciFest@TUS Athlone
A Glenamaddy student has taken home the top prize at SciFest@TUS Athlone, one of Ireland’s larges...
Two Galway schools take home awards at Kinia Creative Technology Awards
Two Galway schools have taken home awards at the Kinia Creative Technology Week. The event,now in...
Local resident lodges appeal to An Bord Pleanala over expansion plans at Galway Clinic
An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala over considerable expansion plans at Galway Clini...
Tri-lingual Casla service for people with disabilities nominated for major national award
Casla Resource Centre, which provides tri-lingual day services in Connemara, has been nominated f...