Pete Wilkins: 'Disappointment and frustration but I think those two points will be massive'
FRUSTRATED: Connacht coach Pete Wilkins praised his team’s durability after they battled back to claim two points from the 32-27 defeat to Ulster in Belfast but still voiced his frustration at the manner of the loss. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Connacht coach Pete Wilkins praised his team’s durability after they battled back to claim two points from the 32-27 defeat to Ulster in Belfast but still voiced his frustration at the manner of the loss.
“With the way the scoreboard flowed in the end it was two points gained,” Wilkins said of a game which might have even seen them pip their hosts to the five points but for the red card shown to lock Josh Murphy late in the match, “but that comes with the frustration that we could have played better.
“Ulster handled those pressure moments better than us, they managed to turn little gains into another little gain and another little gain,” he added after his squad had fought back from trailing 19-5 to tie the contest at 24-all with less than 20 minutes remaining.
“That became entries to the 22 and I thought they (Ulster) were outstanding when they got in there.
“The frustration for us will be in how they got access to the 22 and whether we could have made that a little bit more difficult.
“(So) Disappointment and frustration but I think those two points will be massive in the wrap-up at the end of the season.”
As for Josh Murphy’s red card for a hit to the head on Ulster hooker James McCormick, Wilkins said: “It’s a big moment in the game and it certainly hurt our chances of getting the result from that point onwards.
“The red card was costly but there were other things we can improve on too.
“What we’re seeing now is a team that doesn’t give up and is always in the fight and that is fundamental to being a Connacht player, so I’m pleased with that but at the same time the growth for us is to make sure that we’re turning that into consistent wins,” he added.
“I’m delighted to get the five points,” said Ulster coach Richie Murphy following two heavy defeats at altitude in South Africa.
“There was a lot of pressure on us to perform and I thought in a lot of periods of the game we did really well,” he stated after Ulster took their second win from four rounds of action.
“I thought the commitment was there from the start and the physicality was right up there and the guys were going for it from early in the game.
“We lost our way a little bit at times and turned over some easy ball in midfield and probably didn’t kick the ball enough and Connacht, the way they are playing at the moment, playing some really good rugby, obviously they capitalised on some of our mistakes,” Murphy added.
On a night when Alan O’Connor, winning his 200th Ulster cap, played against his brother David, it was also a family affair for Richie Murphy as his son Ben scored a wonder try for Connacht.
The Ulster coach could only praise what he had seen from Ben while being thankful that it hadn’t cost them the game.
“I could see it happening before he actually went and then when he went through the gap, I knew no-one would catch him as he’s extremely quick.
“From a father’s point of view, I’m really proud of the player he’s becoming, and he’s done a really good job for Connacht over the last few weeks.
“He’s allowed to come home to the house which is good,” the Ulster coach joked.
Ulster had led 19-17 at half-time following tries by John Andrew, Jude Postlethwaite and man of the match John Cooney, Connacht having replied through Shayne Bolton, Joe Joyce, and Ben Murphy.
In the second half, David McCann and Nick Timoney crossed for Ulster while Dylan Tierney-Martin did likewise for the visitors - who had a Sean O'Brien touchdown ruled out - with Josh Murphy, yellow carded in the 49th minute seeing red in the 71st.
Still, Connacht finished strongly, Josh Ioane kicking an 80th minute penalty to earn them the second bonus point.
: E McIlroy, W Kok, S Moore, J Postlethwaite, J Stockdale, A Morgan, J Cooney; A Warwick, J Andrew, T O’Toole, I Henderson (capt), K Treadwell, D McCann, S Reffell, N Timoney.
: J McCormick for Andrew 53mins, C Reid for Warwick 66mins, C Barrett for O’Toole 70mins, A O’Connor for Henderson 14mins, Marcus Rea for Reffell 60mins, N Doak for Morgan 58mins, B Carson for Postlethwaite 31mins, M Lowry for Moore 73mins.
: Kok 32
: S Cordero, M Hansen, P O’Conor, B Aki, S Bolton, J Ioane, B Murphy, D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham, J Joyce, J Murphy, C Prendergast (capt), S O’Brien, P Boyle.
: D Tierney-Martin for Heffernan 56mins, P Dooley for Buckley 56mins, T Lasisi for Bealham 11-18mins, 66mins, O Dowling for Joyce 61mins, D O’Connor for Boyle 61mins, C Blade for Murphy 63mins, C Forde unused, C Oliver for O’Brien 63mins.
: J Murphy 49
: J Murphy 71
: A Brace (IRFU)
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