Connacht's Byron Ralston eyes big finish after weathering early storm

It is over six months since Byron Ralston swapped Western Australia for the west of Ireland and the days of playing with a dry ball are fast becoming a distant memory.

When Ralston spoke to fellow Australians Jarrad Butler, Mack Hansen and John Porch while weighing up whether to leave the Western Force for Connacht, the weather popped up in each conversation.

Now he knows why. Wind and rain have greeted all of Connacht's games at the Sportsground this season, with the added bonus of a yellow weather warning in place during last weekend's win against the Cell C Sharks.

"Slowly but surely I’m getting used to it," said Ralston. "It’s still taking a bit of time. I always turn to Mack or Porchy in the backline and say, 'Jeez, really. Is this how it is?’

"But the beauty of it is we get to train in it every day, so when it comes to game time and it’s howling, the rain is coming horizontal, we’re used to it. It’s like having a 16th man on the field really.

"Ideally I’d love it to be dry, 25 degrees, no rain whatsoever, but that’s just not the case over here and it’s something I’ve had to adjust to and take my time getting used to."

The versatile Ralston came off the bench against the Sharks for his 10th Connacht appearance as Andy Friend’s men kept their play-off hopes alive in the BKT United Rugby Championship with a crucial bonus-point success.

With two wins from two in the Challenge Cup, Connacht can move a step closer to a home tie in the knockout stages with victory over Brive in Galway on Saturday, with Ralston expected to be promoted to the starting line-up.

It is a crucial period in Connacht’s season. They visit Newcastle next weekend in their final Challenge Cup pool match before another must-win home game against Emirates