Connacht Rugby camp still positive for upcoming key games
CONNACHT captain Cian Prendergast said they will need to quickly put the disappointment of their loss to the Lions and prepare for their URC showdown with Munster at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday week.
Their six-match league winning run ended in Johannesburg but the five points gleaned from their superb win over the Stormers the previous week keeps them in the hunt for a knockout place and qualification for next season’s Champions Cup.
“It's not season-defining for us, we'll regroup and we'll go again against Munster in two weeks' time,” said Prendergast after the 33-21 loss at Ellis Park.
“A couple of decisions didn't go our way. I think in the first half we put ourselves under a little too much pressure with unforced errors and they got some breakdown turnovers, and we know they are a great side over the ball, so I think we gave them too much access in those areas.”
Results elsewhere did not go Connacht’s way at the weekend and they remain just outside the top half, three points adrift of an Ulster side who have lost three of their last four games.
Munster defeated a depleted Ulster team at the weekend and will come to Galway on Saturday week seven points clear of Connacht despite numerous issues on and off the field.
Prendergast said they will bounce back from the Lions defeat and have a right crack off Munster before finishing their campaign away to an Edinburgh well out of contention.
“We're a young group, we're growing all the time,” added Prendergast. “We have big players to come back for us, so this won't be defining for us. We'll go again against Munster.”