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This Saturday Connacht make the short trip down to Limerick as they take on Munster in Round 8 of the United Rugby Championship, kick-off at Thomond Park is 7:35pm.
It’s the first game for Connacht since beating Ospreys on October 29th in Swansea due to the International break. Speaking to media ahead of the game was Connacht loose-head prop, Denis Buckley. The Roscommon native was asked what the players have been up to during the three week spell.
“We got a week off after the Ospreys game so most of the lads that weren’t involved with Ireland got away from the Sportsground for a few days”
“We came back and did a bit of an install for two days where as last week the training really ramped up”
“The coaches got to install a lot of things at a higher tempo and higher intensity than we would normally get during these weeks with no games”
“Last week was very tough as it was a combination of a pre-season week and rugby install week with install being a case of enforcing our key principles rather than new ideas”
“On a normal game week we don’t get a lot of chances to do that sort of stuff as a lot of time is spent on analysis and going through our play for the week”
We are two months into the new artificial surface at The Sportsground and Denis feels the players have adapted well to it.
“We’ve all adapted to it very well and its a great surface to play on”
“I know in the past when we’ve played on 4G pitches you’d always have to change your studs but in fairness to this pitch that’s not the case”
Connacht head down to Munster this weekend having already beating the Southern province at home, Denis knows the challenge that awaits.
“We have a block of two games in the URC and then go into Europe but we haven’t looked past this match on Saturday”
“Interpro games are always good games and the ones you want to play in”
“We know this is going to be a tough challenge going down to Thomond Park but one we’re all excited for”
“We know they are targeting this game but we’re ready and just want to get out there Saturday night to show what we can do”
