Mental baggage weighs on Connacht

Having scaled the dizzying heights of double wins over Northampton and Begles/Bord eaux to reach the European Conference quarter-finals, Connacht find themselves back at the bottom of the hill. Glenn Ross has quickly grasped Connacht's historical baggage by observing that while they may be a closer fourth in the Guinness Interpro pecking order, they are still fourth.

Just four wins in the 1990s underlines where Connacht are coming from and when it comes to Munster, the mental baggage weighs heaviest of all. Connacht have to go back to 1986 for the last of their mere five wins in 60 interpro meetings against the Munster men.

"That is the stark reality," concedes Ross. "It's not a factor for me as I've just stepped into this job, but for the players who've lived through it is a difficult thing for them to deal with.

"Being focussed is probably the most important thing in dealing with that mental baggage. It's just 15 men against 15 men; we're not up against 15 supermen."

Under Warren Gatland's Kiwi influence, Connacht shook off an inferiority complex last season. The Kiwi factor remains, with Ross taking over from Gatland, Junior Charlie still there and Justin Cullen's clearance enabling him to line up in the second-row, with Graham Heaslip preferred to Mick Finlay on the bench. Another New Zealander, full-back Russell Southam has been ruled out with shin splints, resulting in a recall for Willie Ruane.

Although Ruane's reinstatement means eight of Connacht's line-up from Agen survive, Munster have the most settled side of all, with just two changes from the team that signed off last season by beating Harlequins.

Their coaching structure is unchanged and they've had a week's recovery from their successful tour of Wales. The only seed of doubt has been planted by the fact that they're playing at Doora doyle, not Thomond Park.

Connacht are an unappealing 9 to 2 outsiders with Paddy Powers for the title, with Munster 6 to 5 favourites.

There's method in the bookies making Munster favourites. Aside from continuity, they have a winning mentality up front. The backs are not quite so proven, but Rhys Ellison alone is worth his weight in gold. It also has to be remembered that Limerick sides finished one, two and three in the AIL last year.

They have the pedigree and they'll take some beating.

Connacht: W Ruane; N Carolan, P Duignan, M Murphy, A Reddan; E Elwood (capt), D Reddan; J Screene, B Mulcahy, M Cahill, J Cullen, J Duffy, J Charlie, B Gavin, S McEntee. Replacements: D Mescal, O Cobbe, A Allnutt, B Jackman, J Maher, G Heaslip, J Casserley. Munster: D Crotty; J Lacey, M Lynch, R Ellison, A Horgan; K Keane, B O'Meara; I Murray, M McDermott, P Clohessy, M Galwey (capt), S Leahy, U O'Callaghan, A Foley, E Halvey. Replacements: B Walsh, T Tierney, R O'Gara, J Hayes, F Sheahan, D Clohessy, D Wallace.