Strange week for Connacht

On the face of it, Friday night's win over Llanelli Scarlets should have been the cause for great celebration as Connacht take another step towards a first ever appearance in the Heineken Cup.

But, in the Lanigan's Ball sort of flirtation that Connacht have with making it to the Holy Grail, last week was one where they took one step forward and three backwards.

Confused? Okay, there are three ways Connacht, the only team in the Magners League never to have played in the Heineken Cup, can finally make the breakthrough.

They can do so by winning the European Challenge Cup, which looks beyond them, or by finishing above one of the Irish provinces in the Magners League, hence the discomfort being felt by Ulster who are now four points adrift.

The third, and most probable route, is by finishing above the lowest placed Welsh team in the Magners League. That would then see them qualify for a one-off play-off with an Italian side, with the winner going into next season's Heineken Cup as the Dragons have done in three of the last four years.

Politically, this would also be the best route. The IRFU might be less begrudging in their financial support for Connacht in the Heineken Cup if it was to happen not at the expense of the three favoured provinces.

The Dragons are the weakest Welsh side but last week made two huge steps forward. On Tuesday, they snatched a last gasp 15-13 win over Llanelli.

Worse was to follow on Friday night as the Dragons ended Glasgow's fifteen month unbeaten home league record with an 18-16 win, with Glasgow's Dan Parks inches off target with a drop goal at the death.

It was a sickening blow to Connacht who are now six points adrift of the Dragons and who would be two points clear of them had the formbook held across the water last week.

Compounding matters, the cancellation of the Ulster-Munster game means that Declan Kidney is likely to send a weakened side when it is refixed as he will be without his frontline players and an Ulster win, unlikely had the game taken place on Friday, must now be fancied when it finally goes ahead. A strange week, indeed, for Connacht.

Some Perspective

The sudden death of young athletes in their prime has been a frightening development in recent years. Phil O'Donnell, the 35-year old captain of Motherwell in Scotland, became the latest victim when he collapsed as he was being substituted in a game against Dundee United last Saturday week.