Connacht may just shade a tricky final home game

RUGBY:COACH ERIC Elwood will invite his Connacht charges to ensure their final home game of this Magners League season finishes on a high, on and off the pitch.

The night has been designated as a family fun occasion with a variety of entertainment for children while music, food and a chance to mingle with the players are added attractions.

The Irish province has won three of their last four Magners matches and five on the bounce at the Sportsground in what has been a memorable first season under Elwood’s coaching baton. It is not just the results that have been so impressive but the manner in which the team has played that deserves plaudits.

They oppose a Cardiff Blues side that simply must win if they are to maintain play-off aspirations. The Welsh franchise currently lie in fifth place in the table, four points behind Leinster, five adrift of the Ospreys and they trail Ulster by seven having played one match less than their rivals.

The Blues have only won one of their last four matches – away to Edinburgh – but may prefer to dwell on the statistic that their hosts have managed just a single success in the last 10 meetings between tonight’s combatants. The visitors welcome back Chris Czekaj following a minor knee strain and prop John Yapp (calf), who starts at loosehead.

Despite an injury list that includes Ben Blair, Sam Warburton, Gethin Jenkins, Tom Shanklin, Deniol Jones and Richard Mustoe, the Blues boast a formidable team led by New Zealand secondrow Paul Tito. The pack possesses a surfeit of hard-running ball carriers, supplemented by the wily breakdown skills of veretan Martyn Williams, and there is a nice balance to the three-quarter line.

Centre Jamie Roberts should offer his pack a target going forward while in Casey Laulala and Leigh Halfpenny, the Blues possess a couple of players who can create and exploit space. Connacht’s defence will have to be both resolute and disciplined.

Fionn Carr’s brace against Edinburgh the last day took him past Conor McPhillip’s all-time try-scoring record (32) for the province and he’ll continue to bolster that tally before he moves on during the summer. Jamie Hagan and Seán Cronin will also make their final appearance in a green jersey at the Sportsground before they join Leinster.

Ireland Under-20 international Mark Dolan and the exciting talent that is Eoin Griffin, happily recovered from a hamstring injury, are part of a strong Connacht bench.

Cardiff’s need is greater but Connacht have worked hard to instil a winning culture and they’ll be reluctant to let that go in front of their supporters. It’ll be close, but the home side might sneak it.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; B Tuohy, T Ta’auso, T Nathan, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; R Loughney, S Cronin, J Hagan; M McCarthy, B Upton; A Browne, J O’Connor, R Ofisa. Replacements: A Flavin, B Wilkinson, R Ah You, M McComish, J Muldoon, M Dolan, K Matthews, E Griffin.

CARDIFF BLUES: C Czekaj; L Halfpenny, C Laulala, J Roberts, T James: D Parks, R Rees, J Yapp, G Williams, T Filise; B Davies, P Tito (capt); A Pretorius, M Williams, X Rush. Replacements: R Williams, S Hobbs, S Andrews, M Paterson, M Molitika, L Williams, C Sweeney, D Hewitt.

Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland).