IT FINALLY happens for Connacht on Friday night. They are welcomed into the Heineken Cup fold by Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.
These teams are familiar sparring partners, especially the head boys – Eric Elwood and O’Shea being old friends, having first soldiered together at Lansdowne RFC in another time.
“We know if we don’t turn up and play with the correct sort of intensity against Connacht they can beat us,” said O’Shea, Harlequins’ director of rugby, yesterday.
“We know they have been dreaming about this game for a long time.
“And how long have I known Eric? He is a proud Galway man. We happen to have them in their first ever Heineken Cup match. They are a good side. Harlequins and Connacht know each other really, really well. We will not be underestimating them in any shape or form but in Heineken Cup you simply have to win your home games.”
Connacht had lost their outhalf, hooker and top try-scoring winger to pastures new by the time Leinster’s success last season opened a pathway for them into the top tier of Europe. It meant Elwood was forced into a summer of scrambling around for the required depth to make them competitive against the unbeaten ’Quins,French aristocrats Toulouse (at the Sportsground next week) and a gnarled Gloucester outfit.
“Yeah, they have lost a few players this season but new fellas have come in,” O’Shea continued. “They brought an island influence into their squad – guys like (Henry) Fa’afili and (Fetu’u) Vainikolo are asking different questions.
“But the core of the group – men like John Muldoon, Johnny O’Connor, Gavin Duffy – are still there and know what the province is all about.
“We know what’s coming. I read Ulster centre Darren Cave saying it was the most physical game he ever played in last week.
“There you go. You don’t need to say any more to our players.”
O’Shea’s young squad made giant leaps at the end of last season, winning in Thomond Park and then catching Michael Cheika’s Stade Français in a dramatic end to the Amlin Challenge Cup final.
The World Cup barely dented their rhythm, only taking Nick Easter, Samoan flanker Maurie Fa’asavalu, Argentine lock Tom Vallejos and the recently fit again scrumhalf Danny Care.
Arguably the best player in the world not involved in that tournament will be kicking their goals. One-time All Black outhalf Nick Evans has played a massive role in their current 10-game winning streak. “Nick made his peace a long time ago in terms of the decisions he made,” said O’Shea. “He had his time with the All Blacks. Could he have graced the World Cup? Of course he could have; he is an incredible player. You would pay to watch him train.”
So, how long exactly has O’Shea known Elwood? “19 . . . 80 . . . 9, I think. We played together for the club and then for Ireland. Eric must still be bored of kicking high balls to me on the back pitch of Lansdowne Road. But I think we both had a similar work ethic.
“I went to Lansdowne when I left school (Terenure College) in 1988 and it was ’95 when I went over to England. He went back down to Galway around that time.
“He’s just one of the proper people in rugby. Whatever he does he’ll do it the way it should be done, and his team will conduct themselves the way every team should. I couldn’t speak highly enough of Eric.”
The feeling is mutual: “Conor is a good friend of mine,” said Elwood. “I only spoke to him last week. We have a history with them in the Amlin. And have good results against them both home and away. Okay, the goal posts have shifted; they have stepped up and are unbeaten this season. They are a very good side.”
In contrast to Harlequins hot streak, Connacht are stumbling off the back of four defeats.
“Still, this is Heineken Cup rugby and it’s our first time in it. My God, if you can’t get up for that there must be something wrong. There is no point looking back. We must stay in the now. We’re just going to embrace it.”
