CONNACHT are going to be a tough proposition in the European Challenge Cup this weekend.

The game is an important one for us. It's a great route into Europe and it's a competition we've done well in to date. But Connacht is going to be our stiffest battle so far!

We've seen a video of them and they are a very spirited side. They've always been seen as the weakest Irish province, but I'm not sure that's true.

I think the system over there makes it difficult for them to get into the main European competition.

Their only route in is winning this competition so, from their point of view, these games will be a massive focus for them.

They have got some good players. We are certainly going to have to get it right to put them away. I think, given our result last week, motivation shouldn't be a factor.

I think these two games will decide who goes into the quarter-finals. We've got to go to France to play Montpellier, which will be difficult. French teams are notoriously bad travellers but good at home.

It will be nice if we don't have to get a result in France to secure our passage to the next round.

Because of my involvement with England, I haven't played for the club for six weeks and it will be great to get out on the park again.

Over the last week both my brother Alex and Worcester team-mate Ben Hinshelwood have had to retire from the game which really brings home the reality of rugby as a profession.

You don't know how far you are from finishing your career in rugby but it's not something you can dwell on.

Rugby ebbs and flows. There was a time when I had big injury problems and Alex looked like he was going to the World Cup.

The thing is to enjoy the times when they are good!

My brother is just happy that he's been given the opportunity to start a new life, coaching with Saracens, and I don't think it is an opportunity he expected to be given.

I've always been fairly aware that you need something to fall back on because of all the injuries I've had.

Some players, especially younger ones, think they are invincible but it certainly isn't the case.

Ben's injury has had a sombre effect on the mood in the camp. We are a tight squad and we will miss somebody like that but the guys will use it as motivation.

We'll play for Ben because he doesn't have the opportunity to play.

It was a disappointing result at Newport but it's important for the squad as it grows and strengthens that the younger players get a chance to play.

Newport has always been a difficult place to go but that's how they will learn and get better. Some of them did well -- there were a few pretty good individual performances but the young lads will get better and that gap between the first team and the academy won't be as big.