Scottish international says Forde display meant Connacht did not miss Aki
STRENGTH TO STRENGTH: Connacht’s Cathal Forde receives the BKT Player of the Match Award.
Promising Connacht centre Cathal Forde produced such an all-round performance that they scarcely missed Bundee Aki — and that’s according to the Scottish international who was playing opposite him at the Sportsground on Saturday.
Stafford McDowall, who made his Scottish debut during the summer, said that Forde has the potential to go a long way after another barnstorming performance.
The Galway city native, who will be 22 next Saturday, crowned another big display by anchoring the scrum when No.8 Jarrad Butler was binned and then took over the kicking duties when JJ Hanrahan was injured and duly landed all four kicks.
“Bundee Aki is up for World Player of the Year but I don’t think Connacht were missing him much today,” said McDowall. “Obviously Bundee does a lot for Connacht but Cathal played really well.
“I have played against him a couple of times over the last couple of years. He’s a good player and I think he has a big future ahead of him. He’s always tough to play against,” said the 25-year old Scot.
Forde, who made his debut against Glasgow in January 22 and had now played 15 times, did not allow a clanger which gifted Glasgow their opening try when he unsuccessfully tried to control a restart close to his own line.
Head coach Pete Wilkins said that Forde showed his composure by not allowing the mistake to impact on him.
“I was delighted with him. I think Fordey goes from strength to strength. He was very good against the Ospreys last weekend and it was a step up for him against that Glasgow backline.
“And then there were the disruptions. He was asked to go in the scrum when we had the yellow card. He was always going to cover ten for us if anything happened to JJ and he took over the goalkicking.
“I think the maturity he showed but also the composure to roll with those things and keep doing the things well that got him in headlines so far in terms of the strength of his carry and really good reads in defence. I was delighted for him and he continues to grow and that’s great,” said Wilkins.
Forde’s versatility could be beneficial to him and Connacht this season. His ability to cover out-half, with Jack Carty and possibly Hanrahan now injured, is an addition, especially when Aki returns from World Cup duty.
The former Irish U-20 international announced his arrival at this level with a man-of-the-match display and a brace of tries against the Sharks last January and is now really pushing on this season.
Connacht trailed 19-14 at the break but got on top after the restart with Diarmuid Kilgallen’s second try and one from hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin securing the win, although they will be disappointed not to have notched a second bonus point win in a row.
Now they will hope to make it three wins on the trot at the start of a season for the first time in nine years when they host Ulster next Saturday, but Wilkins believes they have room for improvement.
“We certainly feel there is room for improvement,” he added. “Any game against Ulster is massive, particularly here at the Sportsground and you do want to make a statement against your rivals, the other Irish teams.
“We do think there is growth, we think we were better than against the Ospreys in round one but there will be lots of aspects we can improve on in all areas of the game and that’s part of the excitement.”
: Tries: D Kilgallen (2), D Tierney-Martin. Cons: C Forde (2). Pens: JJ Hanrahan (3), C Forde (2).
: Tries: K Rowe, T Jordan, J Dobie, penalty try. Con: G Horne (1), D Weir (1).
: T O’Halloran (C Reilly 75); B Ralston, T Farrell (L McNamara 41), C Forde, D Kilgallen; JJ Hanrahan, C Blade (c); D Buckley (P Dooley 60), D Tierney-Martin (T McElroy 16), J Aungier (D Robertson-McCoy 50); N Murray (O Dowling 52), J Joyce (D Murray 61); C Prendergast, S Hurley-Langton, J Butler (C Oliver 63).
: J McKay; K Rowe, H Jones, S McDowall, K Steyn (c) (J Dobie 38); T Jordan (D Weir 75), G Horne; O Kebble (N McBeth 59), A Fraser (J Matthews 43), Z Fagerson (L Sordoni 60); S Cummings, R Gray (G Peterson 60); G Brown (R Darge 43), S Vailanu (A Miller 62), H Venter.
Adam Jones (Wales) Attendance: 4,109.
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