Connacht geared for 'glamour' game
Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:05
Connacht welcome London Irish to the Sportsground on Friday for their high profile, second round contest between teams who have both made winning starts to their European Challenge Cup Pool One campaigns.
Connacht marked their record 78th tournament match with a valuable 30-12 away win in Dax last weekend, while the Exiles ran in a dozen tries at home to Rovigo.
"It is certainly going to be a big ask for us but, ever since the fixtures were announced, we have been looking forward to what really is a glamour match for us," said Connacht coach Michael Bradley.
"London Irish have a super squad and are a great side - we will be up against the same team who took them all the way to last season's Heineken Cup semifinals so we are well aware of the challenge they will present.
"They are a pretty formidable club with plenty of pace out wide and power up front and it is going to be a tough gig for us but also one we relish.
"They have already put 28 points on Sale Sharks, won at Harlequins - which is no mean feat - and beaten London Wasps so I am sure they are a team really going places in the Premiership.
"However, we are playing very well in our home matches and after a tight game against the Ospreys we have beaten Glasgow Warriors and Leinster in Galway so we cannot wait to play London Irish in front of a full house on Friday night.
"Our fans have been really looking forward to coming to watch the game and the players to competing against one of the best teams around."
Connacht have been the one constant in the 13 seasons of the tournament, reaching the knock-out stages five times, while London Irish went down 34-36 to Gloucester in extra-time of the 2006 final at The Twickenham Stoop.
"We made a poor start against Dax but managed to turn it around in the end," said Bradley.
"We looked a bit nervous and were slow to get into our defensive patterns, giving away two soft tries which knocked us back a bit.
"But we were more direct in the second half and that paid dividends. Now we are focussing on London Irish and the huge challenge they will present."
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