Connacht still face an uphill battle to secure a top eight finish in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Running out of games, Stuart Lancaster’s side is now looking to build on the recent victory over Ulster with a return to Dexcom Stadium to play Welsh outfit Ospreys on Saturday.
Currently in ninth spot in the BKT URC table, Saturday’s game is “hugely important” for league positions for both teams.
“The most pleasing thing about the last four games, in particular, is the translation of training into habits that stick under pressure in the game - a shining example of when we have prepared well in the week with a good plan.
“The boys executed that plan really well - not consistently, but consistently enough to win away from home in a very difficult place against a high quality team,” Lancaster says.
That sixth win has given Stuart Lancaster’s players a real boost. A potential turn-the-corner moment.
“We earned the right to score. It wasn't an intercept or on the back of a penalty. It was consistent application, pressure, multi-phase rugby that led to opportunities by working off the ball to create the tries that we scored.”
However, there are continuing work-ons, including the concession of tries, he says.
“We didn't get everything right by a long stretch, and certainly in the first 20 to 30 minutes, I was a bit frustrated. We didn't launch very well. Our line-up delivery wasn't great. We didn't nail the line out. We dropped a couple of balls, but there was enough good stuff from our attack that meant that we translated the defensive pressure into attacking pressure and resulted in 26-points ultimately.”
Now Lancaster is preparing for an Ospreys side boosted by their returning internationals, and sitting just one place behind Connacht on the table, six points adrift.
Having already beaten Connacht 24-21 in the Challenge Cup, this is another “huge one” for the Welsh outfit.
“It will be a hugely important game for league positions, for both teams,” Lancaster says. “They've got a whole lot of internationals walking back who are very confident on the back of the Six Nations. Ospreys are such a tough team to beat, and obviously, we know from the Challenge Cup game.”
With Osprey’s future still in doubt, he expects to them to be “fighting for their life”.
“Obviously there's a whole lot of turmoil in Welsh rugby. But there's plenty of international players in the team, and they are a hard team to break down defensively.”
Lancaster remains realistic, knowing even if Connacht overcome the Welsh outfit, they are still facing into a tough run-in - particularly against South African opponents.
“I wouldn’t say if we win, it's in our control because we've still got to go to South Africa. Very tough games there, and obviously, then the Munster game, Edinburgh, and it could easily come down to that I suspect.”
Denis Buckley and Shamus Hurley-Langton are available, but Sam Gilbert and Dylan Tierney Martin will be assessed next week ahead of the visit to South Africa. There are no updates on the long-termed injured, Caolin Blade, Hugh Gavin, Harry West, David Hawkshaw, Temi Lasisi, Byron Ralston, Mack Hansen, and Oisin Dowling.
Jack Carty
Lancaster paid tribute to outhalf Jack Carty, who, having played 15 seasons with Connacht, announced his retirement.
The 33-year-old remains Connacht’s all-time record points scorer with 1260 points scored across 231 appearances in 15 years. A product of the Connacht pathway system through Buccaneers RFC and Marist College, Carty was Connacht captain from 2022-2024, and earned 11 Ireland caps during his career, including three appearances at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
In 2021, Carty was instrumental in helping Connacht overcome Leinster 35-24, scoring 25 points, and ending Leinster's 26-match PRO 14 winning run.
“There's no better player,” says Lancaster, “and I've coached against him when he's been on his game.
“I remember when he played against Leinster, and he seemed to just dominate the whole game from start to finish.
“His strengths are multiple really, but the calmness he brings is a huge strength, his ability to see space in the backfield and understand where to kick it and how to kick it. Sometimes you feel he's got the ball on a string - he can literally just direct it where he wants, which is a pretty unique skill.”
