Connacht losing their way after spurning a glorious opportunity

Connacht 15Ospreys 16

Rob Murphy

THAT’S one win from six now and seven vital Magners League points lost in the last 90 seconds of three games this season. There is plenty still to fix with this Connacht side and while holes were plugged in the hull early on, new ones are emerging and the sheer size of the task facing the management team is becoming clearer.

The counter argument from the top table will be the mantra: ‘we are more competitive this season’. That statistic shows that Connacht are making progress in this regard. Last year, the Westerners actually scored 16 more points in their first eight games, but conceded a whopping 69 more. The average margin of defeat in five league reversals is seven points this season, last year in six defeats it was 20.

So things must be better and the fact that they have picked up five extra points, including six away from home as compared to none in the entire season last time around adds to the positives. However, the vast majority of the good work came in the opening month and since September that one win from six statistic is the most important. Things are slipping and ‘regroup mentality’ is badly needed.

The term "new Connacht" has been transformed from a throwaway and fairly innocent line in a press conference early on into a full blown political slogan of late and when soundbites creep into sport, everyone should cry stop.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.