Interpro rivalry pushing Connacht to put logic aside in festive scheduling conundrum
Pete Wilkins knows that beating Ulster in Galway on December 28 is very important but at the same time the chance to take on URC table-toppers Leinster at the Aviva demands the full attention of the westerners
Connacht boss Pete Wilkins knows that the logical move is to weigh team selection to face Ulster next week rather than against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.
Having said that, Wilkins has gauged the mood in the westerners' dressing-room and believes there is value in going after the URC table-toppers at the Aviva Stadium.
"I think it'd be very hard to convince anyone around here that that one game is more important than the other," Wilkins assessed. "Although I think at the minute, it feels like Leinster because it's the one on the immediate horizon.
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"We realized we didn't give the best account of ourselves in that game at home - and also because we'll have some fresh bodies coming back either from injury or players that didn't have to make that long trip to Perpignan. So guys are very excited about this week. They always offer that lens to the game.
"You're right about the URC context when you're beating teams that are more around you, in terms of fighting for the similar spots in the ladder, those points do carry greater weight.
"But, for us, the excitement is about Leinster and the opportunity within that."
In that context, Wilkins says there's no free shot on offer for Connacht this weekend, even if the expectation outside of his set-up is for the Blues to prevail.
"There's an element of less pressure in the sense that if if Leinster beat Connacht, the person on the street won't be hugely surprised, particularly up at the Aviva," he said. "And regardless of of who they rotate selection wise, it'll be an incredibly strong 23 coming up against us.
"So in that sense, do we as a province, do we as a team, have a decent track record when we feel that we can just go for it, and there's not too much worry about consequence?
"I think some of the time, that's when we play our best rugby, and certainly our mindset we can be strongest in those scenarios. That said, there's such an intense rivalry with Leinster.
"There's so much riding on these games emotionally that I don't think it'll ever feel like a free hit to the players and the coaches because everyone's just desperate to prove themselves against the best.
"So, look, it depends which way you look at it - but either way, it's an exciting proposition. We'll have to prepare well. We'll have to play well, but we always look forward to these games and and and how they go.
"We've got all different versions of that over the years - we'll be very determined to put in a good performance."
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