Hit the target

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has called for improved accuracy from his place-kickers ahead of this Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Zebre at the Sportsground (3.40pm).

Lam expressed concern that Connacht’s goal-kicking record is the worst, by a long shot, of any team in the league – four out of every 10 kicks are being missed by Connacht this season.

Connacht used three place kickers at the weekend in the defeat to Leinster, and all three missed at least one pop at the posts.

And, although there were mitigating factors – out-half Jack Carty’s missed conversion was a difficult angle; full-back Darragh Leader’s two punts were quite a distance out; and substitute Dan Parks was still dazed from Jamie Heaslip’s high, late shoulder charge, when he missed his penalty kick – Lam is concerned about the percentages.

“My view on place kickers is if you’re going to take a shot it means that you can shoot them and you’ve shot them before. That’s the responsibility of the place-kickers. If you take the responsibility to kick goals, your job is to kick the goals. That’s an area of concern for us because we’re 59% (goal-kicking success rate) in the Rabo, and the next lowest is 68%,” said Lam.

He said the accuracy of his players’ kicking from hand in open play also needed improvement. Their decision to kick has been good, but the execution has let them down, he said.

Lam’s comments come as the plucky Italians roll into town seeking a first ever European Cup victory, buoyant after a first-ever home derby win over Treviso at the weekend.

Connacht are on the verge of a bit of history, too, as another European home win – added to the two away triumphs against Zebre and Toulouse already  – would represent a record number of Heineken Cup wins in a season. But, more importantly, it would put them in contention to qualify for the knock-out stages, or the Amlin Challenge Cup, going into round six of games.

“We need to do our side of the bargain, to win the game and keep alive and hopefully Toulouse can win at home too, to keep it all alive. If you’re alive in the last week then all options are open for you because you never know what’s going to happen with all the other results. Our main objective is we have to come away with the points,” said Lam.

 For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.