Following Connacht’s comprehensive RaboDirect PRO12 victory over Leinster on Friday night, Eric Elwood’s men are looking forward to their second successive interprovincial derby – a mouth-watering trip to Ravenhill to face table toppers Ulster.
Despite a number of injuries in the westerners’ set-up, the bonus point 34-6 win over Leinster saw some fantastic individual displays but ultimately it was the collective effort from the squad that best exemplified the night.
Man-of-the-match Michael Swift, stand-in captain Nathan White and try scorer Ronan Loughney are all suffering from knocks picked up during the interpro success at the Sportsground.
Scrum half Frank Murphy (knee) is expected to be unavailable for selection for six to eight months, while young forward Dave Nolan (leg) is another player on the long-term list.
The Connacht medical staff are also monitoring the fitness of Andrew Browne, captain Gavin Duffy, Matt Healy, Matthew Jarvis, Eoin McKeon, Brian Murphy, Paul O’Donohoe, Danie Poolman and Kyle Tonetti.
Elwood was delighted with Connacht’s first victory over Leinster since April 2010, but knows there is a lot of work to do as they prepare to take on an unbeaten Ulster team.
“We’re very proud of the way we played on Friday but the big test now is to ensure we can play like that against Ulster this week and on a regular basis throughout the season,” he said.
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