Onwards and upwards the mantra for Elwood and Connacht

CONNACHT’S IMPROVEMENT under Eric Elwood has been marked. In two seasons he has turned successive last-place finishes in a 10-team League into ninth and an all-time high eighth of 12, and the latter despite the additional demands of a debut Heineken Cup campaign.

They are scoring more freely and conceding less, upping their try average from a measly 1.1 in the previous two seasons to 1.45 and 1.2, while leaking 1.95 and 1.6 per game over the two seasons, as against three per game.

Seven of their 14 league defeats came with losing bonus points. It’s worth noting that in ’08-09, Connacht lost 45-3 on the road to the Scarlets, 58-0 to the Blues, 53-13 to Ulster and 75-5 to London Irish in the Challenge Cup, and the following season they lost 62-13 to Edinburgh and 58-10 to the Scarlets. Under Elwood, two seasons ago their heaviest defeat was 30-8 to Leinster and last season it was 38-10 to the Scarlets.

“It’s been progress,” says Elwood. “Come hell or high water we wanted to get that first win in the Heineken (against Harlequins) so I think we gained respect, we showed we could be competitive and I think that kick-started it and to the players’ credit we finished the year strongly.”

Now comes the hard part. Elwood welcomes the new signings and Connacht A’s inclusion in the British Irish Cup, which he believes will intensify competition and training. “We’re very happy with the signings we got in. It will certainly add to our culture and strengthen our squad, but I think to get to the next level it’s that attention to detail, setting standards in our training and hopefully getting off to a very good start in our first game against Cardiff. It’s important we get a good start.”

A key signing has been Dan Parks. If he is of a mind for one last great adventure, the Australian-born 34-year-old could prove a significant acquisition in turning close games into wins with his high kicking ratio and tactical acumen, and guiding an otherwise relatively callow backline.

“Dan is a great asset at 10. We have other good young 10s but Dan brings in his professionalism as an ex-international and also he’s a giver and a good pro, so the young tens will learn off Dan.

“Similarly, getting Nathan White’s expertise and his knowledge sharing is vital and he’s fitted in like a glove. We haven’t seen too much of Dannie Poolman, because he’s been injured and Willie (Faloon) has been a good addition. There’s good competition there with Johnny (O’Connor) and it gives us options.”

Alas, the odds on Connacht beating Cardiff, Parks’ former club, in Saturday’s opener at the Sportsground (kick-off 5pm) have been reduced by the calf strain which the ex-Scottish outhalf picked up in pre-season, rendering him doubtful for the game, with a high injury toll further limiting Elwood’s options, notably in the frontrow and in midfield.

Younger, home-grown products are coming through the academy, none quicker than Kieran Marmion, the Irish Under-20 World Cup scrumhalf, and outside centre Robbie Henshaw, who was playing schools’ rugby with Marist last season and played against Harlequins in pre-season.

Ground improvements, a new stand, increased crowds and season ticket sales, allied to another Heineken Cup campaign have added to the buzz. Last season, in a group containing the would-be champions of France (Toulouse) and England (Harlequins) the supposed whipping boys didn’t concede one offensive bonus point in their six pool games, taking losing bonus points from both their narrow defeats to Gloucester before beating Quins.

After a trek to Zebre, Connacht host a vengeful Quins in October before back-to-back meetings with Biarritz who, given Dimitri Yachvili is sidelined for the first two months of the season, are again likely to put their eggs in the European basket. Still, with Connacht the most vulnerable of the Irish provinces to the sabre-rattling from England and France, it is at least a better draw.

“From the coaches and the players’ point of view to get a second opportunity in the Heineken straight after our first, is a good thing, and we’re very much looking forward to it,” says Elwood.

That over 3,000 season ticket sales were renewed even before a Leinster-Ulster final ensured another Heineken Cup campaign was “a massive boost to the players” according to Gavin Duffy, who cites the presence of 4,000 for the home game against Aironi as well as the record attendances for European ties and domestic derbies.

“They’ve bought into it and as players that’s given us a lot of confidence but also instilled a lot of responsibility to raise the bar. That brings extra pressure but good pressure,” said the captain.