- Connacht win 4/11
Ireland versus Wales in the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup is not the only Irish-Welsh fixture taking place on the Emerald Isle this weekend, with Connacht up against Scarlets and Munster welcoming Ospreys to Limerick.
Taking a look at Saturday’s fixture out west, Connacht should defy a seven-point handicap, especially at home to such an out-of-sorts side missing eight players to Wales duty and others to injury and suspension.
Scarlets managed to sneak past Zebre last weekend, 18-17, but their performance raised more questions than answers and it would be a surprise to see them turn the tide at a venue where Connacht have only lost once in the league since the start of last season, and that was against Leinster.
“Fresh as daisies”
Connacht go into the match fresh from a fortnight off and with a handful of their Ireland stars back in the fold after they were left out of the matchday 23 for Friday’s game against Wales.
Fly-half Jack Carty and lock Ultan Dillane both start, while scrum-half Kieran Marmion is on the bench as Connacht look to build on a terrific 37-26 win at Edinburgh last time out.
Connacht were extremely efficient in attack at Murrayfield that night, whereas Scarlets have been found wanting in this aspect of the game, managing just four league tries this season.
A windy November night in Galway is probably not the ideal time to try and put things right, despite head coach Glenn Delaney’s upbeat pre-match tone.
“We’ll prepare for them being as fresh as a daisy, and they go really well at home. The flavour we’ll take to Galway is to play with ambition and put them under pressure,” the Kiwi said.
