Portugal date for Connacht
Connacht fans will have an extra helping of home ground entertainment this coming season, after the Irish province confirmed that it will take on Portugal at the Sportsground on Wednesday November 5.
This extra fixture in Connacht’s already busy schedule brings their home matches at the Sportsground to a staggering 17 for the season.
Portugal will be the first international side Connacht have faced since hosting South Africa in August 2007, ahead of the Springboks’ successful World Cup campaign and will be the 11th international side to face Connacht at the Sportsground.
Connacht players Ian Keatley and Kieran Campbell already got a preview of just how good the Portuguese are last weekend in Hannover, when the Ireland Sevens side lost out by 12-14 in a very tight semifinal.
Campbell feels that that result, coupled with Portugal’s impressive showing at the World Cup last year, sends a strong message out that the clash, which is due to take place during the November Internationals, will be very competitive.
“They’re a very physical side, their skill level was high and they were certainly well conditioned,” the former Irish International said.
“Their backs were evasive with good ability to achieve line breaks which is a great bonus in both Sevens and 15-a-side.
“They’re a very committed side who competed very well in the recent World Cup. With players playing at a good level in Europe this is enabling them to progress quickly towards the top flight of European rugby. With that in mind they’ll provide us with very tough opposition in November and we’ll have to be at our very best for the game.”
This game brings Connacht’s total home matches for the season to an unprecedented 17, making this year’s season ticket even greater value. When one takes into account the quality of sides visiting the Sportsground in the coming season, including last seasons Heineken Cup winners Munster, semifinalists London Irish, EDF Energy Cup winners, the Ospreys, Magners League champions Leinster as well as 90 percent of the Irish, Welsh and Scottish sides, it shows that world class rugby will be on offer throughout the 2008/09 campaign.
