Connacht's Playoff Hopes Crushed By Lions In Thrashing Defeat
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Connacht’s dreams of making the United Rugby Championship playoffs were severely crushed by a 26-7 defeat at the hands of the Lions at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, on Saturday.
Following Peter Wilkins's departure, the Irish team struggled to adapt to the Highveld conditions, Lion’s physical stamina, and the absence of a head coach.
The opening half at Ellis Park saw the Lions take charge of the match, resulting in a try by Renzo du Plessis in the 14th minute opening the scoring, a reward for their tactful attack play.
Despite missing the conversion, fly-half Kade Wolhuter pulled through to add two penalties to give the Lions a solidifying 11-0 lead by halftime.
Wolhuter added another penalty soon after the break, extending the Lions' lead to 14-0. Despite the Lions being reduced temporarily to 14 men after Du Plessis was presented a yellow card for a trip, the frustration continued for Connacht in the second half, following a disallowed try by Dylan Tierney-Martin for obstruction in the build-up.
A sharp offload from Jarod Cairns paved the way for JC Pretorius to score a try, extending the Lions' advantage further. Connacht finally responded with a consolation score from Eoin de Buitlear, who was back from bruising an injury, and David Hawkshaw added the extras.
Yet, the Lions had the final say as Van der Merwe went after a loose ball to score a try, sealing the victory for the Lions.
Connacht captain Cian Prendergast admitted the team’s performance was below par, and Coach Cullie Tucker also echoed the disappointment, stating the altitude was a factor, but they could have managed it a bit better. Adding that he was frustrated with the result and performance but not the group.
With the defeat, Connacht now sits in 14th place in the URC standings, five points short of the top eight with only two matches left. Meanwhile, the Lions' hard-fought victory places them in 13th place, providing slim hopes as they prepare to face Scarlets in a no-lose encounter if they want to participate in the playoffs.
