Connacht's Elwood frustrated by kicking display

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood highlighted his side’s poor goal-kicking display as the main contributing factor to Sunday’s 15-13 defeat to Leinster at the Sportsground.

The home side managed to touch down twice with Tiernan O'Halloran and Ethienne Reynecke picking up second half tries but Matthew Jarvis’s poor form with the boot allowed Leinster to edge the contest courtesy of five Isa Nacewa penalties.

The result takes Connacht’s poor run to twelve straight defeats in all competitions leaving them 10th in the PRO12 and Elwood knows the team needs wins more than spirited performances.

"Obviously it's another disappointed dressing-room," Elwood told the Irish Independent.

"Leinster are the European champions and we outscored them two tries to nil. But we couldn't buy a kick. The kickers don't need me to tell them.

“We've had a chat downstairs; they know that. If one of those kicks goes over, it wins you a very important game and gives us the lift we were looking for.

"But unfortunately again, it's a good performance, a great effort, good crowd participation and a great night but we've nothing to show for it. It's disappointing.”

Having been brushed aside 24-9 by an under-strength Munster side last week Elwood was looking for a response from his team but finds himself frustrated by missed chances again.

With a visit to bottom of the table Aironi next on the agenda for Connacht, Elwood recognises the opportunity to end their losing streak, provided they can turn a good performance into a good result.

"We knew we needed to step up from last week and we did that. If we can take this on next week, that's the consistency we'll be looking for against Aironi.

"If we can stay at this level of performance, intensity and even maybe a step further, who knows? But we can't drop our levels."