Tactical changes make the difference

Connacht 17Llanelli 13

Rob Murphy

These are the games that invariably cause Connacht more problems than they should. Hidden away in February with the Six Nations in full swing and all eyes elsewhere. That’s what makes Saturday’s battling victory so much more relevant.

This wasn’t just a neat piece of work and four points, it was about a lot more than that, it was about proving to themselves that a best-ever Magners League finish is well within their reach and that when it matters, they can dig out the results.

Incredibly this was just their third Magners League win, six narrow defeats have plague their campaign but with a favourable fixture list ahead including five of nine against teams in the lower half of the table - four of those at home - the target of finishing mid table is looking attainable all of a sudden.

This was probably one of the more high-pressured encounters they have faced this season, another tight defeat would have been one body blow too many and when the Scarlets forced a turnover and exploited an overlap wing with Gareth Maule scoring just after half time, the lead was 10-8 the wind was at Llanelli backs and the worst seemed destined.

The response will give Connacht supporters heart, a sustained period of ball retention, smart play led to the visitors conceding plenty of penalties and struggling to keep their traps shut in response, twice leading to the added penalty of a 10 metre advance. Ian Keatley availed of the gifts to restore Connacht’s lead which they maintained to the end.

Connacht started brightly and scored first on 14 minutes when from the base of an attacking scrum in the visitors 22, Mike McComish broke, found Frank Murphy who looped around passing to Ian Keatley and taking a neatly disguised return which wrong footed the defence and led to the opening try.

The Scarlets response came from the boot of Dan Newton after Jamie Hagen attacked a ruck in his own 22 from the side, giving the visitors a penalty under the posts. Into the strong first half wind it was still an easy kick and the lead was cut to 5-3.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.