Connacht can upset the odds against Grenoble but must play a “smarter” game, according to former Ireland out-half Ronan O’Gara.
The sides clash in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup at Stade des Alpes in the south-east of France tomorrow (8.05pm, live on RTÉ Radio 1).
Pat Lam’s Connacht were top of the Pro12 until last weekend when a loss to Ulster saw Leinster go top after they overcame Munster.
“Connacht are hugely improved. The only fear for Connacht is that they might over-play,” the Racing Metro coach told 2fm’s Game On.
“The amount of time they keep ball in hand, you saw it kind of worked to their disadvantage for the first time this season against Ulster.
“I think it will be the case of managing the game a bit smarter and keeping ball in hand more in the Grenoble half because they’ve an excellent goal-kicker in Jon Wisniewski, who will punish any soft points Connacht have to offer.”
"They’ve an excellent goal-kicker in Jon Wisniewski, who will punish any soft points Connacht have to offer"
O’Gara, whose team face champions Toulon in the Champions Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, added: “Of course you would [give Connacht a chance].
"Both of them are quite similar, both of them favour ball in hand and both have very good skill sets.
“In Ireland people are interested [in Grenoble] because Mike Prendergast and Bernard Jackman coach them, and they play a great brand of rugby but they’ve some very good players from [Charl] McCloud to [Rory] Grice from the southern hemisphere.
“Also, on average, I think Grenoble are scoring over 30 points per game, which is a big statistic.”
Connacht: Matt Healy, Niyi Adeolokun, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Danie Poolman, Shane O'Leary, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Andrew Browne, Sean O'Brien, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon (captain).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, JP Cooney, Quinn Roux, James Connolly, John Cooney, Peter Robb, Fionn Carr.
Here is the team that will face @connachtrugby https://t.co/q2tzjFtJW8 #FCG #FCGCR pic.twitter.com/tf8WavOqKj
— FC Grenoble Rugby (@FCGrugby_en) April 8, 2016
