European Rugby Challenge Cup – Connacht Preview.
Newcastle Falcons make a quick return to European action after a two week Aviva Premiership stint as the travel to Galway to face Pat Lam’s Connacht side on Friday evening.
The two leading teams in European Rugby Challenge Cup pool one meet on back to back weekends, with the Irish province currently top of the table by three points.
Pat Lam’s side fide themselves in that position thanks to two victories from the opening rounds of fixtures, including a bonus point win against Enisei STM out in Siberia and a narrow 21-17 triumph back at the Galway Sportsground against Brive.
Dean Richards men also had a productive start to Europe and head a number of the statistical tables in the competition heading into the match, including the most completed passes, most meters made and most tries scored.
That particular accolade currently sits with Marcus Watson, the former England 7s international who was in devastating form against Enisei running in four tries and showing the range of skills he possesses in his arsenal, as he continues to make an impressive reintegration into the full XV a side game.
Having met on only three competitive occasions, Connacht provide relatively unknown opposition for the Falcons, although they maintain the recent calibre of rival that the Newcastle side has faced, sitting second in the Guinness Pro 12 and coming off games against Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens and Top 14 playoff contenders Brive in the last few weeks.
Kicking off at 19:45 on Friday evening, with live coverage via BBC Radio Newcastle and the club’s official Twitter feed and supporters app, the Falcons side for the fixture will be announced at 12 Noon on Thursday.
In the build up to the game, the official website will be carrying interviews with Tom Penny, Richard Mayhew and Ruaridh Dawson as well as Director of Rugby Dean Richards.
