Connacht's Tucker: 'We have to put on our big-boy pants'
Paul Boyle of Connacht is tackled by Owen Farrell of Racing 92 during the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final match between Connacht and Racing 92 at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Connacht depart for South Africa this Monday morning counting the enormous cost on and off the field of their Challenge Cup quarter-final loss to a Racing 92 side who finished with 13 players.
Connacht looked set for a home semi-final against Lyon and a possible first ever appearance in a European final when they led 21-5 after 13 minutes and the Parisians had try-scorer Wame Naituvi sent off for a high hit on winger Finn Treacy.
But they couldn’t handle the Racing pack, their cause not helped by three backline injuries to Treacy, his replacement Josh Ioane, and Hugh Gavin. But basic handling errors and inaccurate play really undermined their challenge on a frustrating night.
“They went back to their power game and were very well steered by their half-backs, who were excellent, and then they bring Owen Farrell off the bench as well,” said acting Connacht head coach Cullie Tucker.
“It told in the end but we were right in it at the end, three points, proud of that but too inaccurate in the second half. We got a lot of knocks and had to adapt. They kept scoreboard pressure.
“We lost the ball at the ruck numerous times, we had a key lineout just outside their 22 as well. The control elements of our game at times in that period didn't stand up for us and that's what cost us building pressure.
“It wasn't actually that we didn't know how to do it, it was just we were inaccurate in our game unfortunately.”
Connacht have four games left in the URC, three away from home, with a clash against the Stormers in Cape Town next Saturday followed by a visit to the Lions in Johannesburg. Their final home game will be against Edinburgh before travelling to face Zebre.
They are 13th in the league, three points adrift of the top half finish which would secure qualification for the knockout stages and Champions Cup next season when they unveil their €40m redevelopment of the Sportsground.
“We’re three points off the next place, six points off Munster who are in fifth, so we’ve got to go over there and get some results. We have to put on our big-boy pants and dust ourselves off,” added Tucker.
But they could struggle to pick themselves up after this devastating loss. They dominated the opening half but had to be content with a 28-24 lead despite playing with an extra man.
Farrell was binned for a dangerous clearout on Connacht winger Shane Jennings three minutes from time and it could have been costly when Cathal Forde got in a for a converted try to cut the gap to three points but the home side were unable to snatch a winner in the final play despite having two extra men.
Bundee Aki and Cian Prendergast got in for early tries but Connacht collapsed after the dismissal with hooker Diego Escobar scoring from a lineout maul before Dan Lancaster put Nolann le Garrec through to score a converted try that cut the gap to 21-17.
Prendergast and Josua Tuisova traded tries before the break but Racing’s pack took over after the restart. Dan Lancaster kicked a couple of penalties and Farrell, binned for a dangerous tackle on Shane Jennings in the closing minutes, landed a drop goal before Le Garrec got his second try and then kicked a couple of penalties himself.
Ben Murphy and Cathal Forde got late Connacht tries but they were unable to manufacture a match-winner in the final play.
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