Yeah, it’s a cliché, but 2014 has been a year of two halves for Connacht.
January through May saw their season peter off into nothing, taking heavy, heavy beatings from Saracens, Ulster and the Ospreys, with only four wins, three of which were against Italian opposition.
But in the summer, it all seemed to change. Some big signings arrived, most notably Mils Muliaini, an almost perfect player to bring into a squad of so many young, Irish players.
They’ve looked a brand new side since the start of the new season, making the Sportsground a fortress, while their scrum has been a lethal weapon all season.
Player of the Year
Kieran Marmion
Marmion was voted the Player of the Year for the 2013/14 season, and he’s only improved since.
The scrum half picked three Irish caps in the summer and November internationals, and his sidestep of Rob Kearney before scoring the crucial try in their win against Leinster back in September was one of the highlights of the season.
An honourable mention goes to Robbie Henshaw though for stepping in to the gap left by Brian O’Driscoll at national level, but over the course of the last 12 months, Marmion just edges past him for his impact for the province throughout the year.
Newcomer of the Year
Jack Carty
This could have gone to any one of a handful of players. Pat Lam has done an incredible job, especially in the last six months, developing young Irish talent, and although they opened the chequebook to bring in a player of Mils Miliania’s quality, his experience can only have a positive inpact on the squad.
In the end though, I narrowly gave this award to out-half Jack Carty, who has established himself as a crucial part of the squad.
Fittingly, Carty made his first start for the side in the opening game of 2014 against Leinster, and his development in the last 12 months has been crucial to Connnacht’s improvement both domestically and in Europe.
Most Improved Player
Nathan White
It says a lot about White’s preformances in the last 12 months that he earned his first International call-up for any side this November aged 33, injury ultimately costing the New Zealand-born prop a first Irish cap.
Connacht’s scrum has been one of their best weapons, particularly this season, and White’s presence there was a huge part of that, before his ruptured arm tendon cut short the best spell he’s had since he arrived in Ireland in 2011.
White’s form kept Rodney Ah You on the bench before his injury in October, and I can’t wait to see him back in action.
Best Performance
Conancht 10-9 Leinster (19/9/14)
Connacht’s defeat of Leinster showed that their good start to the season was more than just a stroke of luck.
They held the defending champions scoreless for the second half at the Sportsground that evening, and Kieran Marmion left Rob Kearney for dead scoring that stunning try, Jack Carty’s conversion proving to be the game winner.
Robbie Henshaw’s first half hit on Jimmy Gopperth summed up not just the match, but a season of improvement from Connacht.
Best Try
Kieran Marmion v Leinster (19/9/14)
I’ve mentioned it twice already, so it was hardly surprising that this gets my nomination.
In my Munster selections, I’ve gone for a real team try, but this one is all about individual class.
The acceleration in the break, the directness of the running, and the deftness of the sidestep make this an absolutely perfect try, and it helped too that it set up the winning score in their biggest win of the season.
Drink it in.
Oh, and he has previous of doing this to Leinster…
