THERE ARE ONLY so many pats on the head one team can take. Yet again, thanks to a mixture of defensive naivety and controversial officiating, that was all Connacht were left with after Saturday’s home defeat to Leinster.
Zebre’s second ever win in the Pro12 left Pat Lam’s side needing a win to lift them off the foot of the table. Instead, Gordon D’Arcy’s disputed late try left them 8 -16 adrift with not even a point by way of reward for a performance which saw them out-play the reigning champions for long stretches.
Leinster’s substance eventually won out over Connacht’s style, but it was a close run thing – and should have been even closer.
Lam’s head was left spinning in the game’s aftermath. The coach was ‘astonished’ by the decision to let Jamie Heaslip off the hook for a late charge on Dan Parks, yet accepted that his own side’s narrow defence had given Leinster the opening from which Jimmy Gopperth’s (flat if we’re being very generous) off-load found D’Arcy.
“The group, they know why we’re disappointed,” Lam said. “It’s not about the outcome, some of our processes today, when it was crucial, let us down.”
The Kiwi is forced to deal with the harsh reality of being bottom of the table, but is keen to remain true to the ‘vision’ for Connacht Rugby.
‘We can be a really good side’
“I’m really pleased with what we’re trying to do. I get comments from coaches and people I respect that understand and deeply analyse, they know what we’re trying to do.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s somebody who has played 100 Tests or somebody in the academy, it’s a team game. The more we do those sorts of things [play attacking rugby] we can be a really good side.
He added: “We have a vision in Connacht on where we want to go and we’ve got a lot of moral support from a lot of key people.”
Central to that attacking ethos on Saturday night was Lam’s decision to hand a full debut to 21-year-old academy out-half, Jack Carty. The Buccaneers man consistently threatened the line and occupied more Leinster defenders than Matt O’Connor would have wished. Once the debutant was withdrawn for the experienced Dan Parks in the second half, there was a clear change in dynamic for the hosts and they began to attack more laterally.
While Lam freely admits that only injuries made Carty a viable option for the inter-pro, he backed the youngest member of his leadership panel to build on an impressive first outing in the senior number 10 shirt.
“It’s the same in New Zealand, players come out of the under 20s and it can be a stumbling block initially because it’s their biggest dream. But it’s like coming out of primary school. ‘Well done, sign that. Now, off you go to college’.
“I think the biggest thing for Jack is that he’s been in our leadership group representing our academy and I think that work off the field [has helped].
“I thought this was a great opportunity to help his development. The risk factor was well worth it. He played very and that will give him a lot of confidence to kick on from here. And also Connacht [will be confident enough to] bring some more Irish talent through, there’s a lot around this area.
Next time out, Connacht will turn their attentions to the Heineken Cup. And who should come calling to Galway other than Zebre; maybe they’ll even come with the swagger of a side no longer propping up the table.
Lam hopes to have Jake Heenan back in the ranks for that encounter and says that dream of extending their stay is European rugby is very much alive.
“The biggest thing that will refocus us is that we’re still alive in Europe – it’s all on for us next week. That shouldn’t be hard to motivate, especially after [that loss to Leinster].
“Sure there’ll be pats on the back for that, but we’re gutted as a group that we let another game slip away.”
