Connacht implode late on in poor start to new campaign

Cardiff  33

Connacht 21

Rob Murphy in Cardiff

BRACE yourselves. Connacht are on a collision course with reality this season thanks to an unforgiving fixture list that will ask questions of them in every possible way. For this reason, starting with a defeat like the one they suffered in Cardiff on Friday night was more significant and more costly than would normally be the case.

Let’s start by saying this: Connacht were good for long periods in this one and certainly approached the game with a real sense of purpose and determination, racing out to a well deserved six point lead by the half hour mark and through grit and graft, putting themselves in position to win the game with 14 minutes remaining. All was looking good. Alas, calamity was about to ensue.

An upset win was on the cards. Connacht had a lineout just five metres from the Cardiff line, they trailed by a mere five points and had an extra man – Seb Davies had been sin-binned for an infringement at the previous lineout. This wasn’t a ‘score and you win’ situation but it wasn’t all that far off either. A moment of distraction saw Paul Boyle lose control of the ball and the chance was gone.

Let’s continue with the story for this point because what followed was akin to a mini implosion as Cardiff kicked clear only for Connacht to counter attack on half way. At the very next ruck, Jack Carty went off his feet, a penalty and perhaps a slight harsh yellow card for leading with his shoulder followed, it was certainly an unforced error from the out half.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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