Friend, who coached Harlequins from 2005-08, said his players fell for the ruse when Gloucester’s lineout and scrum tactics were apparently left on a whiteboard for them to see the day before a game at Kingsholm. Friend will be on guard this weekend when Connacht take on Gloucester in a key Heineken Champions Cup clash. “And I said: ‘Do not fall for that’ — but some of our players fell for it. Connacht’s opening-round win at home to Montpellier and a gutsy, albeit pointless, tussle in Toulouse means their qualification hopes now hinge on the two Gloucester games. “We are hoping he will be back for the inter-pros, same with Tiernan (O’Halloran).”Back-rower Eoin McKeon is close to a return.

Source: Irish Examiner December 05, 2019 05:37 UTC