Connacht climb into URC play-off places with win over Scarlets
Connacht secured a third BKT United Rugby Championship win in a row as Sean Jansen’s 57th-minute bonus-point try gave them a 26-10 victory over Scarlets in Galway.
Pete Wilkins’ men would have wanted to be further in front after having a first half wind advantage, but scores from captain Caolin Blade, Eoin de Buitlear and Jansen left them leading 19-7.
Despite Scarlets scrum-half Efan Jones marking his first URC start with a try, they were unable to build on that score during what was a stop-start second period.
Connacht’s Irish-qualified number eight Jansen effectively settled the issue ahead of the final quarter, as the westerners climbed four places in the table up to sixth.
The front rows were front and centre early on at Dexcom Stadium. Sam Wainwright did just enough to deny de Buitlear an initial try, before Jack Aungier broke a tackle and passed for Blade to finish off in speedy fashion in the fifth minute.
Following JJ Hanrahan’s conversion, Connacht used an eighth-minute turnover to attack from their own half, with good hands releasing 22-year-old hooker De Buitlear to make it 12-0.
The Scarlets successfully disrupted two maul attempts from the hosts, but when De Buitlear tapped a penalty, Aungier’s swift pass allowed Jansen to drive in low and make it over the line.
A Tomi Lewis interception had Dwayne Peel’s charges building some phases, and a sudden burst by Vaea Fifita saw him feed summer signing Efan Jones on his inside for a 15-metre run-in. Dan Jones converted.
Connacht had the best chance to score before the interval, but Andrew Smith just lost the ball from his grasp as he acrobatically dived towards the left corner, under pressure from Lewis.
Improved defence from the Scarlets, which saw Wyn Jones win a key breakdown decision and skipper Sam Lousi foil a Connacht maul, was duly rewarded with an early second half penalty from fly-half Dan Jones.
Experienced loosehead Wyn Jones won penalties at the breakdown and scrum, but the Welsh outfit blew two lineout opportunities. Jansen then stung them with his second try, which was awarded after a potential knock-on from Denis Buckley was ruled out by TMO Stefano Roscini.
Knock-ons in advanced positions added to the Scarlets’ growing frustration, and Connacht were able to see out the game on their terms, albeit that a promising lineout platform was lost due to a Fifita steal.
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After a fairly simple Pac4, the BFs will find out a lot about themselves in September when they face the rampaging RedRoses at Twickenham in front of a record crowd. After that they will face them again in Canada in WXV1. They also have France to contend with. Will be interesting to see what Australia have to offer with Jo Yapp at the helm.
Go to commentsSuper Rugby Pacific has been better as a spectacle due to the emphasis on speeding the game up and I’d look at taking things a step further. Instead of giving teams 90 seconds to take a conversion, let’s bring that down 60 seconds. You could also look at allowing 45 seconds for a penalty goal. Maybe teams could get 20 seconds instead of 30 to form a scrum before the ref then starts the engagement process. However, this year the most pleasing change is the added competitiveness in the Trans Tasman matches. What does frustrate me is how the rugby media in Australasia allow the the whole ‘‘rugby is boring’’/’’rugby yawnion’’ narrative to take hold from from vindictive league types, the chairman of the ARL commission and News Limited Australia. Stick up for the game and shift the narrative!
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