Connacht’s momentum is not by accident

It was a chastening weekend for the Irish provinces in Europe.

There’s some sense of achievement in reaching finals but for Leinster, it’s all about winning. Their bid to win a fifth star came up significantly short in the baking heat of Bilbao on Saturday, where an awesome Bordeaux side collected a second Champions Cup crown in a row with a blistering display of attacking rugby.

It’s Leinster’s fifth final defat since last winning the trophy in 2018, but the 22 point margin is by some distance the most comprehensive. It may well leave a lingering sense that a change is needed before they are capable of scaling the summit again.

Ulster, too, were outclassed by French opposition on Friday night in the Challenge Cup decider. Montpellier – who are going very well in the Top 14 this season – ran in nine tries in a 59-26 victory that cements France as the dominant force in club rugby right now. French sides have won the last six Champions Cup crowns and four of the last six Challenge Cups.

Given that Munster have endured another frustrating season both and off the pitch, it’s not a stretch to say that, as the campaign draws to a close, regardless of how things play out in the latter stages of the URC, Connacht are the province with the most to be positive about as attention turns to next season. Indeed, as far as occasions go, the defeat of Munster at the Dexcom Stadium in Galway a couple of weeks ago could well be one of the more significant one’s in the chequered history of rugby in the west.

Chasing a top-eight finish in the URC – and requiring a bonus point to ensure there was a legitimate chance of same ahead of the trip to Edinburgh – Stuart Lancaster’s side produced a sturdy performance to get the job done and continue their great run of form since the turn of the year.

Backed up by the win over Edinburgh a week later, and with Ulster missing out on success at the weekend, Connacht are now destined for Champions Cup rugby next season. That’s an enormous achievement – and one which underlines the sense that it’s a province heading in the right direction.

Indeed, the Munster win, as important and all as it was in the context of the on-the-field outcomes of the this season, was arguably another window into the potential for Connacht as an organisation in the modern era.

The good weather ensured the newly renovated Sportsground facility looked resplendent and it offered a glimmer into the possibilities that lie ahead for rugby in our region. A packed crowd of 12,500 roaring their support for a home team playing with enthusiasm and poise; that’s definitely something we can all get behind.

Connacht deserve credit for showing the ambition and the willpower to undertake such a widespread renovation, which now helps create an even better stadium atmosphere and provide the players and coaches alike with a top-class working environment in the new high performance centre. Similarly, the recent end-of-season awards night showcased the marvellous new function room.

Stuart Lancaster’s appointment raised eyebrows all around the rugby world in that a team struggling in the lower reaches of the URC was able to attract a coach of Lancaster’s calibre. Yet, it was hardly an instant upturn in fortunes; in fact, Connacht looked like they were in for another season of underperformance around the turn of the year, with some poor displays, not least away to the Ospreys in the Challenge Cup, leaving supporters puzzled as to the direction the team was headed.

Lancaster always took a bigger picture view, however, and his influence is now clear to see. Connacht are playing with a real vigour and purpose, with the return of Bundee Aki also a major help in terms of leadership.

Beyond his tactical influence, Lancaster appears to have created an environment in which players can thrive. It’s obvious they’re all enjoying their rugby.

The importance of a top-eight finish cannot be understated, especially in an era where Connacht have a world-class coach and a shiny new stadium. If you thought the arrival of Munster and Leinster to the shores of Lough Atalia were special in recent months, it will only be elevated further next season when the powerhouses in the European game from France and England will be rocking up to Galway for Champions Cup fixtures.

Some of the building blocks are already in place for the new campaign - and one of the most important could well be the introduction of a new out-half.

One of the few positives Leinster could glean from their display in Bilbao last weekend was the performance of Ciaran Frawley off the bench. Frawley has had a tough time in getting consistent game time at out half at Leinster, where his versatility across the backline has at times been a hindrance to his own development. Clearly, the player himself wants more than a bit-part role and a consistent run in the same position. That's why he's on his way to Connacht.

The addition of Frawley is a statement. With the absence of a consistent out-half at international level, Frawley has every right to think that, when it comes to it, he could be the man in possession of the jersey when the Rugby World Cup in Australia comes around next year. That makes next season a big one for him, so he's going to be arriving in Galway with the bit between his teeth to make an instant impact. That's the perfect mixture for both player and province.

It'll also be a second season under Lancaster, with the new stadium available from the start of the campaign and Champions Cup rugby to look forward.

Irrespective of how Friday's away meeting with Glasgow goes in the knockout stage of the URC, these are good times for Connacht. Long may it last.