Connacht leave bonus point behind

Connacht 20

Zebre 3

PAT Lam was disappointed on Saturday evening, not because his side didn’t secure a bonus point per se, absolutely not, but instead because Connacht didn’t stick to the process and deliver the performance that would more than likely have secured the bonus point.

The reason for highlighting this isn’t to point out the odd contradiction in that way of thinking, but to give you a little insight into the mindset of the coach and what he is trying instil into his young side who are looking to continue to rattle and disrupt the European hierarchy.

The former Samoan international clarified his thinking a little further: “Every team goes out to win and get a bonus point, which is is just that, a bonus, but that’s the outcome.” Lam is determined that his Connacht squad will not focus on outcomes. He wants them focused on the processes that deliver the success.

All that is just a roundabout way of saying, this wasn’t a game that Connacht will be marking as a high point in their season – even accounting for the fact that once again they have managed three wins in the competition, that this was their biggest ever home victory over Zebre (they’ve beaten then seven times on the bounce now in two seasons) and that the result that keeps them in the hunt for knockout European rugby in April. Who would have thought?

In five short weeks Connacht have faced up to four games against European superpowers and two against minnows who needed to be put away. They’ve delivered one seismic result in Toulouse, taken a beating at home to the same opponents, rattled Leinster and Munster without knocking them over and stuttered passed the Dragons and Zebre.

The progress has been remarkable but imperfect. The challenge has been faced head on and even with injury problems and form issues for big name players forcing them into selection choices that have been brave and full of risk, the mood has remained positive and ambitious. Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.