Unhappy Hunting Grounds

The regular season for Connacht comes to a close this weekend with a derby game against Munster in Thomond Park. 

Limerick is not the happiest of hunting grounds for the men from the west, with Munster winning by an average of 31 points and garnering a try bonus point in 3 of the last 4 matches at home.

Andy Friend’s team will also be up against history, with Connacht struggling in the last game of the season,  winning only twice in the last ten years, both times against Leinster, last year and the final in 2016.

Friend could have a selection headache with both backup out-halves injured. This could open the door for either Luke Carthy, Jack’s brother, or Conor Dean, son of former Irish international Paul Dean, either of whom would be the 50th player to play for Connacht this season.

Both Matt Healy and Tom Farrell will be eager to get their names on the team sheet.

Farrell has scored 2 tries in the last 3 meetings against Munster, and trails Healy as Connacht’s leading try-scorer by 2. 

Healy is on fire when it comes to try scoring at the moment, with 4 of his 8 tries this season coming in his last 4 appearances, but he has never scored in Thomond Park.