Connacht all set for Irish showdown
Friday's Challenge Cup game between Connacht and London Irish is already a sell-out, with the 'Full House' signs having gone up this week at the Sportsground.
Friday's Challenge Cup game between Connacht and London Irish is already a sell-out, with the 'Full House' signs having gone up this week at the Sportsground.
Both 'Irish' sides made a winning start to Pool One, although Connacht's away victory in Dax, 30-12, was far more impressive than the Exiles' trouncing of Rovigo.
Connacht's win has given them a timely boost in confidence, and in doing so set a record for games played in the Challenge Cup – it was their 78th.
But nobody involved at the club is taking anything for granted, least of all coach Michael Bradley who is looking forward to the 'glamour match'.
“It is certainly going to be a big ask for us but, ever since the fixtures were announced, we have been looking forward to what really is a glamour match for us,” Bradley said.
“London Irish have a super squad and are a great side – we will be up against the same team who took them all the way to last season's Heineken Cup semi-finals so we are well aware of the challenge they will present.
“They are a pretty formidable club with plenty of pace out wide and power up front and it is going to be a tough gig for us but also one we relish.”
“They have already put 28 points on Sale Sharks, won at Harlequins, which is no mean feat, and beaten London Wasps so I am sure they are a team really going places in the Premiership.
Despite the quality of London Irish Bradley also believes his side, the perennial underdogs of Irish rugby, are on the up.
“However, we are playing very well in our home matches and after a tight game against the Ospreys we have beaten Glasgow Warriors and Leinster in Galway so we cannot wait to play London Irish in front of a full house on Friday,” Bradley continued.
“Our fans have been really looking forward to coming to watch the game and the players to competing against one of the best teams around.”
In setting a new record in the Challenge Cup Connacht are the only side to have featured in all thirteen seasons of the tournament – reaching the knockout stages on no fewer than five occasions.
Despite a poor start against Dax, where they fell behind, Connacht showed great resolve in coming from behind to win, although all eyes are firmly on London Irish now.
“We made a poor start against Dax but managed to turn it around in the end,” said Bradley.
“We looked a bit nervous and were slow to get into our defensive patterns, giving away two soft tries which knocked us back a bit.
“But we were more direct in the second half and that paid dividends. Now we are focusing on London Irish and the huge challenge they will present.”