Connacht prepare for one final chance to secure a place in the BLK URC quarter-finals when they travel to Scotland to face Edinburgh tomorrow evening (Friday ) at 7.35pm.
Still in ninth spot, despite their recent 26-7 victory over Munster, Connacht now face a Scottish outfit that will be determined to sign off a disappointing season in style in front of their home fans, albeit with no chance of advancing to the later stages.
Stuart Lancaster's side is very much focused on delivering a victory, with a bonus point if possible, to give themselves the best chance of making the top eight. There are some tricky matches for other sides wanting to consolidate their positions - Ulster face league leaders Glasgow in Belfast; Cardiff, just ahead of Connacht by a single point, host the Stormers, who will be doing their best to claim pole position; while Munster, two points ahead of Lancaster's outfit, host the Lions, who currently lie fifth.
Thus, it is all to play for, and Connacht, having stepped up a gear in recent weeks, will have been boosted by their solid and deserved win against Munster in Dexcom last weekend - a timely and perfect fillip for what is expected to be a tough encounter in Edinburgh.
'A huge battle'
They will certainly want to repeat the manner in which they approached every facet of the game against Munster. Connacht scrum coach Cullie Tucker says the performance was “right up there in terms of intensity and physicality".
“We put a huge emphasis on collisions through the week, and the boys delivered," he said. "In terms of intensity it was right up there - it had to be considering what Munster have in their arsenal.
"The emphasis on our carry and our breakdown gave us an ability to play rugby," said Tucker, who, after 10 years in Galway as scrum and contact coach, is leaving to take over the Ireland u20s.
Edinburgh have not enjoyed their best season, and currently sit in 12th spot with 38 points, and although they have little to play for but pride, Tucker still expects a “huge battle”.
“In theory”, he says Connacht might have the edge with a huge prize at stake, but he also knows that Connacht have never won a game at the venue during his 10 years with the province.
“It hasn't been a very happy hunting ground for for us. And then on top of that, you've got an international team - an international pack, and an incredibly dangerous back three - so I think their motivation will be huge to finish the season on a high.
“They also have coaches and players leaving, and they're playing at home in the Hive,” he says. “It’s a team we've put a lot of work into analysing - multiple threats. And our own motivation is huge in terms of what we need to get out of it, so we're expecting huge a battle on Friday night.”
Connacht’s development this season has been reflected in the results - not least last weekend when Bundee Aki, Ben Murphy and Eoin de Buitlear were among the top players from round 17, helping to ensure the club is still fighting for a quarter-final spot.
Tucker says the growth in Connacht's players has been a key factor.
“I think the players understand what's necessary to win every week, and how hard we train. Then when you're getting the outcomes, they understand what the right habits are every week, and that's certainly been a huge factor in what's been instilled in them this season and over the last couple of weeks.
“And then you're turning one point, which we had traditionally got, into four and five points. We've had a lot of big wins since Christmas especially, and there is now a lot of belief.”
However, one more win and five points would put Connacht into the best position.
“We can't focus on anything outside of that. That's been our focus. Whatever we can control this week we have to go after it 100 per cent.”
Unless Connacht win this final 18th round to progress to the quarter-finals, it will be Tucker’s last fixture with the team before taking over the Ireland u20s.
“It is an opportunity to be a head coach, and one I feel I couldn't pass up,” Tucker says. “So I think it's the right thing for me at this stage in my career to go and be the head coach. It's a great opportunity, but it was a hard decision, for sure.”
