TOULOUSE’S NAME HAD already been etched in Connacht history before they last week became the western province’s most famous scalp.
The French giants were the first ever Heineken Cup opposition to march on the Sportsground in 2011 and won 10 – 36 thanks to tries from Jean Bouilhou and Yannick Nyanga.
Much has changed since then however, and the four-time European champions face a battle to win a home quarter final after last week’s home loss to Pat Lam’s side.
The Kiwi coach is under no illusion that Guy Noves’ team will be a much different animal second time around, but adds that Connacht have room for improvement themselves.
“We spoke about the refocus for this week; it’s going to be an even tougher challenge,” Lam says in the below Connacht Rugby TV video.
“There are areas in the game we’ve already identified that we need to do a lot better and we need to do that this week. So it’s back to the grind.”
The Kiwi added: “Although we’re at home they’re going to be even angrier, hungrier and more up for it.”
The westerners’ task may prove to be even tougher after last night’s reports of illness sweeping through the camp.
Listen to Lam, Robbie Henshaw, John Muldoon and Gavin Duffy speaking about the challenge ahead [before the antibiotics were passed around) and their memories of the 2011 fixture below.
YouTube credit: ConnachtRugbyTV
