ROBBIE HENSHAW, KIERAN Marmion, John Muldoon, Bundee Aki and the rest of Connacht’s front-liners are set to return for tomorrow night’s Pro12 clash with Leinster [KO 19.35], but the past fortnight has shown that Pat Lam’s squad is developing depth.
Back-to-back wins over Bayonne in the Challenge Cup were impressive, particularly the second fixture in France, for which Lam changed his entire XV and handed 20-year-old scrum-half Caolin Blade his first start for the province.
The Galwegians man responded with a superb two-try performance in a dramatic 29-27 victory, while younger players such as Conor Finn, Danny Qualter, James Connolly and Finlay Bealham all stepped up to the mark too.
While Connacht’s budget has been boosted this season, Muldoon explains that the province are still not in the realm of chartering flights for this type of European trip.
Indeed, Pat Lam and his players left Galway at 6.30 on Friday morning, flew with Ryanair to Gatwick Airport in London, then on to Bayonne a couple of hours later. The return journey post-match saw Connacht arrive into Galway in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“The performance after all that travel was outstanding and especially seeing the younger guys that people maybe don’t know about stand up is very good,” says Muldoon, who was not part of the squad last weekend.
Muldoon is set to return to the starting XV against Leinster. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
“To make 15 changes and still in the hunt in a competition, having a fight-out against Exeter at home [in January] to get that home quarter-final, it’s a great position to be in. We can’t speak more highly of what the lads did when they went over there.
“I think in the past that wouldn’t have happened. It just shows the depth we’re getting in our squad and the belief at the moment. The management have a few headaches this week, but that certainly beats looking at a squad and thinking you don’t have options.”
Chief among the standout displays from Connacht’s less experienced squad members last weekend was that of Blade in the nine shirt. The Ireland U19 international has been impressive at underage levels, and there is great excitement over the Monivea native’s potential.
Blade’s performance didn’t surprise Muldoon in the slightest.
“It’s one of those instincts that you can’t teach and he’s a short guy, a stocky little fella, so he’s fairly effective from about two or three yards out.