From a best ever finish of seventh, in 2015, to a best ever finished of league winners in 2016. Connacht surpassed even their own wildest dreams last season.
The party raged on for a solid week after the westerners claimed the Guinness PRO12 at Murrayfield. Most lads did the wise thing, mid June and got out of the Irish summer for some guaranteed sun.
When they arrived back, Pat Lam had some rousing words for them.
We asked the Kiwi what his opening speech of the 2016/17 season was and were met by that same broad, reminiscing Lam smile. He replied:
“We put the trophy at the front and talked about what it represented: pretty much just hard work, only an outcome of the work put in as a team and by the whole organisation.
“Recognising what it was and that it’s now part of history. The desire is to achieve things, it’s not rocket science, it’s all about the work we do every day at The Sportsground. It was an outcome, but we continue the journey.”
A technical tweak introduced by Lam was to recreate the full-on training conditions from the week prior last season’s successful PRO12 final. He explained:
“I’ve sort of made week one the same as the final week, I wanted to emphasise that it wasn’t the end, it’s just a continuation of what we’re doing and where we’re trying to go.
“The purpose of Connacht rugby is to try and inspire the community with success. And there’s no doubt the trophy represents some serious inspiration for the people of the west of Ireland. But it’s now part of history. It’s now our business to try and inspire them through more success. So understanding how we did it is key.”
Lam and his coaching staff are on a keen look-out for signs of complacency. He has also brought the senior players into that loop – if someone is slacking, let them know.
He is in no doubt about the challenge that awaits and stressed, once again, how Connacht lack the resources, experience and Test-level players in their squad. “We’re still number 12,” he insists.
As for the target on Connacht’s back, starting from their season opener in Galway against Glasgow, Lam knows what is required:
“If we do that, we get better. if we get better, then we can cope with what other teams will bring. But if we slip in standards other teams will take us.
“I know I keep going over it, but what we do at The Sportsground is massively important.”
The trophy is in Galway. Connacht will need to surpass last season to keep it there.
On the latest GAA Hour we look back at Mayo-Tipperary and chat to Andy Moran about his incredible, never-ending career. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
