The 31-year old led out an inexperienced side in their Challenge Cup opener and knows that if they are to make progress they need to widen the strength of the squad

URC: Ospreys 19 Connacht 22 ANDY FRIEND was scathing about aspects of Connacht’s performance despite his side claiming a significant victory over the Ospreys in Swansea.

The squad will be based in the famous Cape Winelands in Stellenbosch until they fly to Pretoria next Thursday

Jack and Jill Foundation urges people to go 'Up the Hill' next month so it can continue to provide families with vital support

Connacht senior coach Pete Wilkins is hoping that they can cap off the season by becoming the only northern hemisphere side to defeat all four South African teams in the inaugural URC.

The former Irish U-20 is just starting to string a few games together for Connacht after injury

Connacht had the final say when Carty regained his composure to land the winner from the right wing after missing in front of the posts to secure a great win

Leinster cruised into the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals with a crushing second leg victory over Connacht after an eight-try to three rout of their interprovincial rivals

Tournament organisers EPCR had received the complaint over his tackle on Kieran Marmion,

Lock Gavin Thornbury and hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin are also back from injury

Connacht are reeling from successive heavy defeats to Edinburgh and Leinster

Daly will now miss both Heineken Champions Cup clashes with Leinster in April

Bundee Aki will not return until the Champions Cup clashes against Leinster over the following two weekends.

Connacht coach Andy Friend had no arguments with the early red card which Cullen said had a galvanising effect on Connacht in the first half

Despite being reduced to 14 men after less than three minutes, Connacht went in 8-7 ahead at half-time

"Jarrad has all the qualities you look for in a club captain," says Andy Friend

Connacht coach Pete Wilkins is hopeful that Edinburgh’s new 4G pitch at the DAM Health Stadium at Murrayfield will be perfect for his side

Andy Friend reshuffles his pack as Connacht eye third win in a row

Connacht centre Tom Daly says he was always staying with the western province, despite rumours linking him with Munster

Connacht centre Sammy Arnold said that while the trip to Ulster next Friday is not season-defining, they have to produce a reaction after a dismal performance against Glasgow

The Scots took over from there and ran out convincing winners

Forde will try to fill Jack Carty’s boots in a key game for Connacht who have won four and lost four in the URC to date.

Former Irish centre D’Arcy has been drafted in by new Wexford manager Darragh Egan and Boyle, an accomplished footballer and hurler up to minor level, said he would be more than willing to help out if needed

While Leinster might look at bringing the second leg to the Aviva Stadium, Connacht are going to host the first battle at the Sportsground

Connacht head into the knock-out stages for the first time having won just one pool game in the Champions Cup

Another nine-try thriller involving Connacht and for the second week in a row they blow a big lead

Covid cases in the French camp mean the game will not take place and five match points, in accordance with the tournament rules, awarded to Cardiff.

Simon Zebo is in line for his first Champions Cup action since returning to Munster.

The province has a much better record on French soil than English

Connacht will qualify for the last 16 of the Champions Cup on Friday night unless Castres produce an astonishing result and get a bonus point win away to Harlequins

They were going well against the Tigers before Christmas until Steve Borthwick beefed up his front row in the third quarter - and lessons are learned from that day

Jack Carty, cleared to play after recovering from a split lip and a Covid issue, again skippers the side at out-half where he will be partnered by Kieran Marmion

Jack Carty and Kieran Marmion have been in superb form for Connacht even if out of favour with Ireland

Victory over Leicester Tigers in Galway on Saturday would leave them on the cusp of qualification ahead of a trip to Paris to take on a Stade Francais

Connacht have never made it through to the knockout stages of the Champions Cup in six previous attempts, but now they have a real chance.

The IRFU have confirmed that this Saturday’s Bateman Cup semi-finals and the following weekend’s resumption of both the men’s and women’s All-Ireland Leagues remain on schedule

Connacht could leave the Sportsground late on Saturday evening buoyed by a game that was scrappy, at times spiteful and littered with a penalty count

It was the nature of this scrappy URC win against local rivals rather than the timing of it that has persuaded Andy Friend that it could act as a springboard

"That could be season-defining for us, to win playing ugly footy but tough footy."

This was the fifth consecutive meeting of these sides to be decided by a single score

It was no surprise to hear Andy Friend talk about how relaxed he felt earlier this week. With their St Stephen’s Day derby against Ulster falling foul of the pandemic, the Connacht coach was able to switch off over the Christmas.

An impressive run of form helped the 27-year-old to earn a permanent deal at Connacht in advance of the current campaign

The postponement comes after the clash between Munster and Leinster was also called off earlier in the week.

Connacht went 58 years without winning in Ravenhill, and now they head there looking for their third win in five visits