FRIDAY NIGHT AT the Sportsground will be the last time Connacht coach sends his side out for an inter-provincial match.
With Pat Lam ensconced in Galway and on a month-long job shadow, the outgoing coach, Elwood, will be eager to repeat an impressive result from last season.
The westerners ran in three tries, including one from 16-point scorer Miah Nikora to send Ulster back to Belfast with a 26-21 defeat to chew on.
“It was physically tough, so tough, there last year,” Ulster’s Robbie Diack told TheScore.ie. ”We’re going to go there with a point to prove.
“We know how important this game is for us at this stage of the season. We’ve got the lead and know we’ve got to keep it. Going to Connacht is never easy. We’ll have to play better than we did on Friday [against Dragons] to beat these guys.”
Tying to take us down
Ulster’s tail are up following a bonus point win over Dragons on Friday but Connacht were impressive in their 32-24 away win over Edinburgh on the same night.
“There’s a few ex-Ulster players over there,” Diack added, “and they’ll want to prove a point.
[Elwood leaving] will be emotional for Connacht but we are aiming for a home playoff. We have two massive games left and even though Connacht and Cardiff Blues are not high up in the table they will try to take us down. We’ll have to be at our best.”
Ulster coach Mark Anscombe’s biggest injury concern ahead of the league clash regards Iain Henderson, who went over on his ankle during the 31-5 win over the Welshmen. The New Zealander is hopeful that the versatile forward will train fully this week.
“Lock suits him at the minute but, in the future, we’ll see,” said Anscombe. “He’s a powerful man. For only 21 there’s a fair bit of him and he’s growing.”
Anscombe added, “We’ll prepare to go down to Galway and play a tough, physical Connacht team. We got a hiding there last year so we’ve got to make sure we’re up for next week’s game.”
*Additional reporting by Megan Joyce of the Front Row Union
