Following their unexpected triumph over the Scarlets in Wales, Connacht now claim a favourable position on the United Rugby Championship board. The encounter, held on Saturday evening in Llanelli, saw the team score a remarkable away victory over the Welsh Scarlets, a win that has not been frequently achieved.
Pete Wilkins, their head coach, declared the achievement showcased the team’s aspirations and resolve, as this was the third game from which they’d claimed vital points using varying strategies they hadn’t utilised in the previous season. Wilkins also acknowledged that Llanelli has traditionally been a challenging ground for them, highlighted by the experiences of Finlay Bealham and their kitman, Martin Joyce, who haven’t witnessed many wins there.
Describing Connacht’s narrow win against the Scarlets as a gruelling victory, Wilkins mused that they might not have been victorious in similar circumstances a year earlier. However, the side exhibited their mettle in a nail-biting conclusion to clench the win.
Furthermore, a shift in the dynamic of rugby might be underway. The IRFU trialled a rule last year that lowered the legal tackle height from shoulder level to the chest in amateur rugby to enhance safety. Opinions on whether the rule has made the sport safer, encouraged adaptability in players, and improved viewer enjoyment, are shared by Caithriona Yeomans of the IRFU and Seán Skehan of Terenure College RFC. They discuss the influence of these regulations on grassroots rugby.
In the face of a close scoreboard, questions arose as to whether the team had the extra gear and the capability to secure a victory. However, the fact that they did, illustrates their development, as the same win may not have been in their grasp a year prior. After being in the leading position of 21-14 during the half-time break, Connacht surrendered the lead just seven minutes prior to full-time. Nevertheless, thanks to Cathal Forde’s decisive late kick after replacement hooker van de Merwe gave away a last-minute penalty, there was enough push to clinch the win.
Given the Scarlets’ remarkable defence and seized opportunities, they deserve commendation. The team ended up snatching a victory which has now proven to be a notable highlight of the season. The visitors’ victory came arduously; they had an early stronghold on the match and, even though they missed two opportunities to deliver the first try, they carried the momentum.
The visiting team, Connacht, scored their first try courtesy of a misplay by the Scarlets’ who lost possession in their attempt to free their position on the field. Quick on his feet, Piers O’Connor capitalised on this mistake to record his first try for the visitors. The homeowners’ circumstances did not improve as they lost their right-wing player, Tom Rogers, to the sinbin. Dave Heffernan’s potential try was denied due to an earlier interference in the maul from a resulting lineout.
Not long after, a masterful cross-field kick from Carty led to an alert Mack Hansen seizing the opportunity to touch down. With Carty tallying the extra points, the visitors took a 14-0 lead within the first 15 minutes. However, the tide shifted when Bundee Aki was shown a yellow card for a high tackle. The Scarlets capitalised on this situation and Gareth Davies managed to find a defensive gap and narrow the scoring difference back to seven, thanks to Sam Costelow’s successful conversion after 22 minutes.
The game was encouraged into full swing as a spark ignited within the players and the defence of Connacht found themselves being stretched. Costelow and Lousi played essential roles in maintaining the ball in motion, leading to Davis securing a second attempt for the home team, followed by a successful conversion by Costelow. Connacht’s defensive efforts were instrumental in keeping the Scarlets at bay, leading to Connacht scoring just before the half-time whistle. After securing a defensive lineout, a magnificent pass from Aki to Conor Oliver led to an impressive dash down the field. Paul Boyle then made a successful delivery to Murphy, who scored his season’s third attempt. Carty’s conversion gave Pete Wilkins’ team a lead of 21-14 into the break and they held the advantage.
A slight misstep from Connacht resulted in a knock-on just short of the try line, which led to Scarlets regaining possession. Three consecutive penalties put them ahead by 23-21 as the clock wound down. Connacht, now on the back foot, managed to secure a crucial late penalty. Cathal Forde, from the right side, successfully shot the ball between the posts, giving Connacht a lead of one. An opportune knock-on by Costelow allowed Wilkins’ team to seize possession and ultimately emerge victorious from the match.
Scoring sequence was as follows: O’Connor scored a try in the 9th minute, and Carty completed the conversion making score 0-7; Hansen scored another try with a conversion by Carty in the 15th minute marking the score 0-14; Davies scored a 21-minute-try, followed by Costelow’s successful conversion leading to score 7-14; In the 29th minute, Davies scored a try and Costelow converted, evening out the score at 14-14; Murphy scored a try in the 37th minute, leading to a Carty conversion making the score 14-21 at the half time; Costelow achieved a penalty in the 42nd minute changing the score to 17-21; a Lloyd penalty in the 52nd minute brought the score up to 20-21; Costelow scored a penalty in the 73rd minute making the score 23-21; a penalty score by Forde in the 77th minute made the final score 23-24.
Yellow cards were given to Tom Rogers (12) from Scarlets and Bundee Aki (19) from Connacht. The Scarlets team comprised of I Nicolas, T Rogers, J Williams, E James, B Murray, S Costelow, G Davies, A Hepburn, R Elias, H Thomas, S Lousi, M Douglas, J McLeod (Captain), D Davis, and T Plumtree.
Substitutions: A Craig was subbed for Plumtree (35-41), K Matias on for Hepburn at half-time, C Tuipolotu replaced Thomas (57), I Lloyd subbed for Nicolas (42-57, 63), M Page on for Costelow (45), M Van der Merve came on for Elias (55), S Wainwright changed for Thomas (55).
Connacht’s team: S Cordero, M Hansen, C Forde, B Aki, P O’Connor, J Carty, B Murphy, D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham, N Murray, D O’Connor, J Murphy, C Prendergast (Captain), C Oliver.
Substitutions for Connacht: P Boyle substituted for Prendergast (32), D Tierney Martin on for Heffernan (52), P Dooley replaced Buckley (52), S Bolton subbed for Carty (54), Temi Lasisi came on for Bealham (63), O Dowling for Murray (57), C Blade for Murphy (54), D Hawkshaw took the place of Cordero (63).
Referee for the match: Marius van der Westhuizen.