Connacht know exactly what is required heading into the final weekend of the URC regular season.
A win over Edinburgh at the Hive Stadium on Friday night is essential if Connacht are to keep their URC play-off hopes alive, with the western province also needing other results elsewhere to fall in their favour.
Sitting ninth heading into Round 18, one point outside the top eight, Connacht’s resurgence has turned what once looked like a lost campaign into one of the most compelling late-season pushes in the URC.
Now, according to scrum-half Ben Murphy, the squad are embracing rather than fearing the pressure.
Connacht’s season transformed after difficult start
Connacht won just three of their opening 10 league matches earlier in the campaign, leaving their play-off ambitions hanging by a thread before Christmas.
Since then, however, Pete Wilkins’ side have been among the form teams in the competition, winning six of their last seven URC fixtures to force themselves back into contention.
“There’s pressure on the game, there’s no getting away from that,” Murphy said.
“You either shy away from it or you walk into it head first. That’s what we plan on doing Friday night.”
The 25-year-old believes the squad have grown mentally through the adversity they experienced during the opening months of the season.
“We’ve gone through a bit of pain. We didn’t have the start to the season we wanted.
“But every week we felt like we were getting closer. Then we started a bit of a win streak and that’s given us confidence that what we are doing is working.”
Edinburgh challenge comes at worst possible time
The task facing Connacht is far from straightforward.
Edinburgh arrive on a three-match winning run and have already secured their own place in the top eight heading into the final round.
Murphy admitted Sean Everitt’s side have become increasingly dangerous in recent weeks.
“They have won the last three games on the bounce,” he said.
“They are throwing the ball around a lot more. So we know there is a serious threat and we are taking it as seriously as it comes.”
Connacht’s recent away form and growing confidence will still give them belief, particularly after last weekend’s statement 26-7 bonus-point victory over Munster Rugby.
Ioane highlights turning point in Connacht revival
Fly-half Josh Ioane believes Connacht’s season shifted after key wins against Glasgow Warriors and Ulster earlier in the campaign.
“We had some painful games, some close losses, games we should have won,” Ioane admitted.
“But then came the victory over Glasgow and we also won our first interpro against Ulster. That sort of got into the boys’ heads.”
Victories against teams competing near the top of the table gave Connacht renewed belief they could compete with anyone in the league.
“Those were two teams at the top of the table that we were competing with. From there, it just became a habit.”
The Auckland-born playmaker says the squad’s confidence has steadily grown throughout the second half of the season.
“The whole year we have been training really hard and it’s been cool to see the growth in the team.
“We have found some real confidence coming into the back end of the season.”
Connacht focused only on their own job
While Connacht will inevitably keep one eye on results elsewhere across the URC, Ioane says the focus remains entirely on producing another performance.
Their dominant win over Munster last weekend demonstrated the composure now within the squad during high-pressure situations.
“There was a lot of pressure going into that game,” Ioane said.
“But you could sense the confidence in the warm-up. The boys were just winning collisions, getting on top.”
Now Connacht head to Edinburgh knowing their season could either continue into the play-offs or end on Friday night.
“We have got our work done,” Ioane added.
“Now it’s books down and trust what we have done and just go out there and whatever happens happens.”
