Connolly starts from scratch

John Connolly has much work to do at Swansea

John Connolly admits he is starting from scratch with his new charges at Swansea as they prepare for the coming season.

The former Queensland and Stade Francais coach has taken over a squad that underperformed last season and has seen 10 players leave St Helen's over the summer.

Some of the players to go were surplus to Connolly's requirements, while others have been replaced.

Scrum-half Sililo Martens may have gone to Bridgend, but the arrival of the hugely talented Sam Cordingley from Queensland Reds will provide a more than adequate replacement.

But the departures of Welsh international Andy Moore, also recruited by Bridgend, and his second-row partner last season, Tyrone Maullin, has left a huge gap in the front five.

Andy Moore has left St Helen's for Bridgend

With Geraint Lewis and Hywel Jenkins gone the back row is weakened, while the loss of Andrew Le Chevalier and Johnny Marsters leaves scant cover in the front row.

Richard Francis and John Slade, both recruited from Neath, fill some of the holes, while John Welborn is expected to arrive from Brive, but Connolly knows he still needs to strengthen.

"We have to bring some young players through," Connolly said. "But we're still looking around in the forwards at the moment."

Swansea suffered a lacklustre Welsh-Scottish League campaign last year and struggled in the Heineken Cup.

The All Whites only just qualified for the top tier of European competition and the pool draw this time has done them few favours, with Montferrand, Leinster and Bristol their opponents.

"Playing Montferrand away in the first game of the European Cup is a big ask, because Toulouse and Montferrand are probably the two best teams in France," Connolly said.

Yet Swansea proved a match for Stade Francais two years ago when Connolly was in charge of the French powerhouses, and the Australian will be hoping they can confound French opposition once again.