Connacht bid farewell to Clan Stand as Pete Wilkins looks to drown out Storm’ noise

Before that happens, Connacht must resist the terrific tumult of a Stormers side seeking to demolish the sporting dreams of those supporters who have thronged the wonderfully rickety old edifice for generations.

The prospect of ruinous rubble may serve as a chilling metaphor.

As their head coach Pete Wilkins avers, it is all or nothing now. After the humbling efforts in Limerick that produced absolutely nothing, save angst and torment, producing their all is non-negotiable.

Whether it may be enough to save their season is open to come conjecture, given the alarming inconsistency unfurled during a familiarly frustrating campaign.

Defeat this weekend would almost certainly serve as a wrecking ball to their ambitions of not merely a play-off spot – they reached the semi-final last term before losing to the Stormers – but the Champions Cup, too.

Their harshest critics, some of whom will air their voices in the Clan, don’t feel they belong there. Quite a lot of what they have witnessed this term justifies that pessimism.

They have lost three tight games that may have altered perceptions, but in recent seasons they lost other games they may have won too, yet survived to tell a tale other than one pouring tearful regrets.

So many emotions are swirling this week, the curtain imminently falling not merely on a campaign, but on so many careers.

Today's Sport News in 90 Seconds - 15th May

Many new names have been unfurled for next year’s campaign, but this Saturday some stalwarts will bid farewell for ever.

Spearheaded by one-club man Tiernan O’Halloran, one of the few remaining links to that glorious 2016 Pro14 title win, there will be others too, less heralded, but now surplus to requirements.

What will they leave behind? The prospect of a sunless summer devoid of real sporting anticipation should the team fail.

The reduced capacity next term may not be such a headache if Connacht are operating in Europe’s second tier, awaiting the full opening of their 12,000-seater, €45m facelift.

With so much pressure building this week, it will be difficult to keep their eyes on the prize.

“It’s a fair question,” agreed head coach Pete Wilkins, who concedes his players needed to be picked up after Munster ultimately ran them ragged last weekend.

Again, some might argue the coaches need to get a lift from their under-performing squad.

“After such a disappointing performance, a disappointing scoreline in what was an enormous game for us away at Munster, of course it is a blow to morale at this stage. And the players need some picking up after that. I don’t think we hide from that,” he admitted.

“At the same time, the scale of the game this week is key. We’re playing one of the best teams in the URC who are one [not only] of the most dangerous attacking teams but also one of the most dominant tackling teams. They also beat us in last year’s semi-final.

“They’re coming here with all their Springboks. It’s our last home game of the season. The stadium will be the last time as we have known it.

“There is so much noise around this game. It will only go right for us is we remain totally present and totally focused.”