Defence Coach Dale McIntosh has spoken of his huge admiration for the culture at Connacht ahead of the RaboDirect PRO12 clash between the two sides this Saturday evening at Galway Sportsground (kick-off 5pm).
Blues go into the clash on the back of three successive victories in the league over Ulster, Edinburg and Scarlets.
However, McIntosh is under no illusions to the size of the task in Ireland against a Connacht side just below Blues in the league standings.
He said: “I have a lot of respect for Connacht. They seem to have a very good culture and they work hard for each other.
“Pat Lam has installed a bit of a Southern Hemisphere influence into the environment there. They play a lot more expansive than they did in the past. They also have a very big pack and we need to deal with that first and for most.
“We are trying to challenge with ball in hand, trying to keep the ball alive,” he added. “In doing that we go through the phrases and hopefully the opposition will run out of defenders - that is our philosophy at the moment.
“It seems to be working, but a lot of that is down to the nicer weather at this time of the season and our attitude to play the game and put backsides on seats. The product is important and we need to make it attractive.
“However, we can’t just go out there and play Sevens, there needs to be a controlling aspect and that is what we do in our set piece. Obviously up front as forwards but also when the game does break up we need to be comfortable that we can play in wider spaces, whether you have one on you back or ten on your back.”
McIntosh admitted having a strong season for those players leaving at the end of the season was a contributing factor adding: “The boys that are leaving walk through those doors with a lot of integrity, it is important that they walk out with that intact.
“The boys are playing for each other, for the badge and we want to get as high up the ladder as possible.”