Connacht head to the capital with confidence...

By Rob Murphy
March 1 2006

Connacht haven’t won at the Dublin venue since Mark McHugh’s injury time drop goal gave them a dramatic 26-23 victory back in 2002.

In the meantime two under power performances at the venue have seen Connacht brushed aside 21-6 and 18-9 by the Leinster men.

Connacht currently trail the lowest ranked Scottish side Glasgow by 13 points and the lowest Welsh side, the Dragons by 11 points in the battle for a Heineken Cup play off place. It seems a long shot but Connacht still have four home games in their last seven and have to play the other five sides in the bottom six.

Connacht will need victories away to Leinster and Borders next month to remain in contention but if they get them, combined with their ‘free weekend’ in April, they could find themselves very much back in contention.

Both Borders and Leinster have been excellent at home this season so it is going to take a mammoth effort but if Connacht can pull it off they could look forward to their final five games, four of which are at home, with confidence.