Connacht signed off their URC season with a heavy loss to quarter-finalists Leinster by 33-7 - a result head coach Pete Wilkins says will lead to a pre-season “reshape”.
Finishing in 11th place with 45 points, Connacht missed out on the cut for Champions Cup rugby by some five points. Welsh outfit Ospreys grabbed that spot with 50 points. Yet even a bonus point win against Leinster would not have guaranteed qualification.
It was results throughout the season, a home loss to DHL Stormers, an away loss to the ever-improving Benetton by 18-14, and a hugely disappointing 14-38 home defeat to Emirates Lions which sank the Connacht ship.
There are also a host of "fine margin” results, from which Wilkins can take heart - a three points defeat away to Edinburgh, two points at home to Leinster, one point in Belfast, four at home to Cardiff, four away to Benetton, four at home to the Stormers. All were wins which would have secured a quarter-final place.
Understandably Wilkins, having completed his first season as head coach, is “disappointed and frustrated” with their latest loss to Leinster, believing his side let their opponents off the hook. But crucially, he is also aware that other teams in the competition have “stepped up”.
“We've remained more or less the same, certainly in terms of points return. So that side of it is pretty stark. Anytime we've won more games than we've lost, we tend to get in the top eight. But the league is getting even more competitive where that's not quite enough to get you there,” he says.
“We'll take stock. I've already got a fair idea of things that need to be different. And that's different in terms of myself and how I do the job now I've had a year to learn what it's really like sitting in the hot seat.
“I think it's also what we need to do different in terms of how we prepare, how we play, the mindset of a group. There's an enormous amount there for us to reshape. It doesn't mean everything's broken, but I've got a pretty clear idea now of what we need when we're competitive.”
Missing from that last fixture were Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen, who were both injured, while Santiago Cordero impressed on his debut. These are Connacht’s game-changers, and Wilkins says they do make a difference. “You know how close we are in terms of some of the performances. I certainly don't think belief is an issue there. Some guys haven't had much rugby this season, and I think it's really important for any team to have their game breakers available.”
While relying on those players, Wilkins also says Connacht’s character is key.
“You look at Conor Oliver, David Hawkshaw, young Shane Mallon making his first appearance, Santi with his first start there at fullback. You're looking at guys to see how they respond, and when you go 21-0 down, you learn a lot about your group. You learn who grows into that environment and is determined to give more, and you learn who might shrink away a little bit and go quiet.
“I've learned a lot more about the group and know exactly where we want to build that squad around next season.
“I think the players, and I think the other staff are ready for a break in fairness. It's been a long season. For me, I've got the learning now, and the frustration, but also seeing what's worked for us this year. Ultimately I want to get on making that happen and bringing it to life.”
