Torrid season is grinding to a halt for hapless Connacht

Edinburgh 31

By JOHN FALLON at Dexcom Stadium

CONNACHT will try to end a bitterly disappointing season by avoiding a sixth United Rugby Championship loss in a row when they head to Parma at the weekend to take on Zebre.

It will bring a disruptive campaign to an end in a week where former head coach Pete Wilkins, who departed on sick leave in March before leaving permanently, was announced as the new attack coach for Benetton for the next three years.

Connacht supporters would probably like some light shed on what exactly has happened with their side this season, but the campaign will end on Saturday and leave them guessing for the summer of what has transpired with a team they have followed and for which they are being asked to stump up for tickets for next season.

Interim head coach Cullie Tucker, who took charge when Wilkins departed, will hope to end the season on a high note with a win but it’s a dead rubber and it probably shows just how far Connacht have slipped despite this season assembling their best ever squad that a win over Zebre would be regarded so highly.

Connacht knew beforehand that results elsewhere meant they could not qualify for the knockout stages of the URC or next season’s Champions Cup, but Edinburgh still had a lot to play for as they were still in contention.

Connacht came from 14 points adrift to get level in the second half on Saturday, but they never managed to get ahead at Dexcom Stadium and fell to a fifth successive URC defeat when Edinburgh kept their season alive by securing a bonus point win.

It was a frustrating final home game of the season which in many ways summed up Connacht’s campaign as they failed to make the most of opportunities while simultaneously leaking soft tries to a determined Edinburgh outfit.

A warm sunny evening added to the end-of-season feel to the encounter on a night when Bundee Aki made his 150th appearance for Connacht at the end of a week where he was named as a Lion for the second time.

But it was the other Lion on the field, Edinburgh’s loosehead Pierre Schoeman, who made the first mark when he drove over beside the posts after the Scots had walked their way down the field with three lineout penalties in a row. Ross Thompson added the conversion to make it 7-0 after eight minutes.

Pictured: Connacht's Sean Jansen tries to make ground against Matt Currie of Edinburgh during Saturday's URC encounter at Dexcom Stadium. Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy.