By John Fallon
Stuart Lancaster is facing a prop crisis as Connacht look to salvage their Challenge Cup campaign tomorrow night against a Black Lion side from Georgia who are depending on the strength of their pack to cause a shock (8pm).
Four of the seven props in the Connacht senior squad are either out or in doubt as Lancaster’s side prepare to bounce back after surrendering a 21-0 lead in Bridgend on Sunday and going down to defeat by the Ospreys.
That defeat, though, is really only a blip on Connacht’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stages as the competition format, which includes a ‘Round of 16’, will see just two of the 18 teams eliminated from the pool stages.
So each team plays four pool matches, two at home and two away at often huge cost, just to eliminate two teams. And given that a good chunk of the sides involved don’t take it seriously, it seems inevitable that Connacht will advance to the knockout stages unless they lose every game.
The value of the pool stages is nailing down home advantage for the knockout stages, but while Connacht set that up for themselves last season with a flawless group stage, they failed to make it count when they were beaten by Racing 92 in the quarter-final on College Road.
The competition does give a chance for experimentation, invaluable for a new coach like Lancaster in Connacht, but demoralising losses like Sunday’s misery in Bridgend can also have an impact.
He’s looking for a response tomorrow night when the Georgians, who have former Connacht winger and coach Conor McPhillips part of their management team, come to town.
Lancaster’s biggest concern is at tighthead with both Finlay Bealham and Jack Aungier suffering head injuries in the loss at the Brewery Field. Former Irish U-20 Temi Lasisi, who can play both sides, is a long-term casualty with a knee injury, leaving Sam Illo as the only senior tighthead available until the others are assessed.
Lancaster indicated that academy prop Fiachna Barrett could come into the reckoning. Experienced loosehead Peter Dooley missed the Ospreys game with a hamstring injury.
“It is a concern, because you lose two tightheads in one game, that’s a concern now. So Sam Illo is obviously available and also Fiachna Barrett, so we will see,” said Lancaster.
“It’s a completely different challenge. We’ve got a good group of players who haven’t played this week who are going to be coming back available, so selection will be important.”
Black Lion, coached by former England hooker and much-travelled coach Richard Cockerill who also looks after the Georgia side, lost their opening game 24-13 at home to Montpellier at the weekend.
“I know Richard Cockerill, who coaches them pretty well, so I know the type of game plan they’ll come with. It’s essentially the Georgia team minus the Georgian internationals who play in France. So we know what to expect: physical, big scrum, power. We have to muscle up.
“But the reality is, whatever team we put out, we need to be more consistent for the 80 minutes. As we were against the Sharks, that was a complete performance. Whereas this [display against the Ospreys] had elements of really good stuff, but there was an element of frustration from us that we didn’t play for the full 80,” added Lancaster.
Pictured: Jack Aungier, seen here in action in the URC against the Sharks a fortnight ago, picked up an injury in the Challenge Cup defeat away to the Ospreys last weekend. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.
