Rob Murphy

CONNACHT will embark on the new campaign with a fresh sense of purpose this Saturday evening. The Newport Dragons are in town for a 5:30 kick off and the television station that is synonymous with the west of Ireland, TG4, will be there.
 

Their presence is appropriate as the game marks the first for a fledgling head coach with a huge sporting reputation out west. Eric Elwood's first game at the helm is a tough task with a fair amount of pressure attached but he has made a career of jumping in at the deep end.

There is a decent symmetry to the fact that back in 1989 when Elwood joined the Connacht squad for the first time, a Connacht man was also in charge. Declan McDermott was at the helm. The former Bish and Corinthian was the last home grown head coach out west. It has been some wait.

Elwood seems ready, he has portrayed a decent balance of nerves and confidence so far this week. His players are no doubt in the same boat. It has been far from an ideal preparation. At one point last week there were 16 players carrying knocks from a squad of 30 (by some distance the smallest squad in the League).

Additions from last year include Ezra Taylor at eight (big boots to fill there with Naoupu departing for Japan), Cillian Willis from Ulster along with young Leinster pair Shane Monahan and Darragh Fanning.
Outside of that, it is the same squad that made some significant and tangible progress last season in Michael Bradley's seventh term. The Challenge Cup home semi final against Toulon was a watershed day for the province. A sell out 6,500 crowd and a city that turned green for a weekend.

It offered a glimpse of what could be a solid future for the game in Galway and the west of Ireland, but there is a reality attached to that dream. For such days to be guaranteed, the Magners League form must improve and all this with as small a squad as ever.

The IRFU clearly weren't convinced by the progress. They are still to sanction contract extensions beyond 2011 and Elwood has bemoaned this nationally already. His forthright and determined public plea to the power brokers is hugely encouraging as Connacht's quiet behind the scenes grumbles have suited the Union just fine in the past.

The Bank of Ireland are back on board for a 14th year and, according to CEO Gerry Kelly, the support from the local business community has never been as strong. The impact of April's run of huge games has played a pivotal role in such support from sponsors, big and small.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.