THE ENDGAME OF Connacht’s loss to Munster has been the source of much consternation and introspection over the past week and a half.
The 11-point gap between the teams in the Pro14/12 Conference B stands as a reminder for an all too recent memory of how the western province were unable to turn the screw from five metres out with 15 men against Munster’s 13 and just six points separating the sides approaching the final whistle.
“A lot of frustration because we really felt ‘we’re winning this’ and ‘we’re gonna win,’” said Ultan Dillane looking back on the missed opportunity this week.
Long story short, a case of mixed messages left Connacht between two minds and the last-gasp attack was a botched one.
“There were just different messages being sent around. So then, obviously, the forwards were thinking… ‘by the time we look up it’s going to be a try.’ But then it just ended up a little bit different.
“At least we had a really honest talk about it and we know we just need to be clearer when it comes to that.”
The frustration is clear within Dillane as he points to a similar case during the loss to Bristol. The hope now is that the post-Munster meeting, and a week of clear heads afterwards, will make the decision-making all the sharper whenever a similar scenario presents itself.
“I have no doubt that, if we are in a situation similar to that, I know we will be better equipped to make a collective decision that is decisive,” says Andy Friend.
Whatever that decision is, the head coach stresses the need for a single solution, rather than the muddle that appeared to scupper them against Munster.
“I’m not going to say we should have done something. It’s very easy to make a call from a box…
“We just weren’t decisive. One side thought we were going one way, another the other way, and we ended up doing what we did.
“The other message was that we promised them, ‘we trust you. But just pick one decision, and then as as 15 players back it.’
“And if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, that’s fine. But know that we trust you. You don’t need our approval for anything.”
For his part, Dillane has been inspiring roars of approval from all corners over the past month. The lock has been in excellent form through Europe and the inter-pro window. With the Six Nations just around the corner, he’s not ready to let himself shift focus away from the here and now.
This past year has taught him that there is little point.
“It might have over the years but not any more,” the Kerryman says when asked if an Ireland call-up was on his mind.
“If we play well enough here, you get your merit from that. Your focus can’t be too far ahead like that because that will really wreck you if things don’t go well.”
Similarly, though there is uncertainty felt by so many players over their playing status as contracts come down for renewal, worrying is wasted energy for Dillane, despite his own contract being among the list of expiring.
“It could be a huge issue if you wanted it to be. There are so many people off contract, nearly 23 in our squad. Everyone is in the same boat.
“Every other week you could be coming in going ‘Oh have you been spoken to?’ It’s just a slower year for it and it will happen in its own time. Again, if you’re playing well, you should have nothing to worry about. It’s about maintaining that process.”
Dillane is measured and philosophical about the landscape. An indication of wisdom or 27-year-old maturity perhaps?
“I don’t know. It’s been a weird season. How many games have been cancelled? This game could still be cancelled. So there’s no point in getting worked up over anything any more.
“You never know what’s coming.”
Ospreys on Sunday with a little luck.
A head coach who’s never been involved with a heads up style team decides this is how he’s going to play…
All the talk of happy at training seems to have caused us to lose our aggression.
A new coach who rewarded form over reputation would have got us off to a good start or at least set us on a path that we can build on.
Farrell and co are out of their depth. It’s going to be mid table mediocre for the future
@Umpaloompa: with all due respect what a load of nonsense.. the guy is barely in the chair and having done what was least expected (beating Wales and Georgia losi g to England and France) we are calling for his head..
For who? Scott Robertson? And what about the millions the IRFU would have to spend to buy out current coaching contracts in the middle of a government bailout?.. Get up the yard and give it time
@PScald: Yeah I know it won’t happen because it would cost a fortune and the IRFU only have their self to blame. Do you think any top club would go for him if we did get rid of him?
He claims to be implementing a heads up style yet we now have Joe’s style less the skill level and execution. I don’t see much light at the end of the tunnel
@PScald: might as well wait another 2 years to do what plain and simply obvious.
@PScald: it’s not simply a win or loss it’s the manner in which those results happened. The style of play is abysmal. They crash the ball up every time. It’s so predictable that a team with a bunch of semi pro players could stop it. He also picked 8 players in his 23 that were over 30 years old against Georgia. What benefit did the likes of Earls and Healy get from playing in that game?
@Umpaloompa: 100% a top club would have him as head coach. Top test teams would have him as defense coach.. I’m not sure about Catt or Easterby but I have faith in Farrell being a success..
Let’s be honest he’s dealing with playing his 3rd and 4th choice outhalf and trying to find an alternative to Murray.. today was sh1 t but they won. Next week will be a good test
@Chris Mc: what is plain and obvious?
@Rudiger McMonihan: yeah 8 players over 30
In a friendly joke of a tournament – this should have been the summer tour to USA and likes of Harry Byrne needed time
@Rudiger McMonihan: a team with a bunch of semi pro players didn’t stop it.. they lost…
@BMJF: Harry Byrne! Seriously? He currently is unlikely to get in the starting 15 Leinster in a H cup match for 4-5 year and is no6 oH in the country after sexton, burns, carbery, his big bro and carty!
Lovely to watch him in the last 20 for L in nothing Pro14 fixtures.
Work in progress, I think.
Time for Leo and Stuart, methinks!
@Daniel Murphy: I’ll get my coat
@Daniel Murphy: farrell and easterby are doing a great job.
tu rebus omnibus non est punctualis
It should be the teams motto !!!
Firefighting a different issue each week is ignoring the bigger problem. If you continue to play the same predictable way you’ll end up chasing your tail all the time
Develop the pod attack to introduce alternatives not just the middle man single carries , the dummy runner they have introduced isn’t working either. Try a vertical pod or move the pods out to the centre , do something creative and different
As for the backs , bring the wingers into the midfield , get the full back running hard lines into a switch play , and at least pass the ball to where the player is going instead of where he is .
Be creative for once
I wouldn’t call for a coachs head so quickly but the coaching team have made some basic errors. In the initial squad only having 2 LHs even as fans we could see that was a mistake, how can a professional coaching team make that error. McGrath or Eos should have been in from the start and playimg this game. Playing Bealham at LH? Did Farrell really think he was a better LH than McG or EoS? What was learned? Nothing we already didn’t know. It wasnt fair on Bealham either, how is he going to prove his worth at TH with that game? Playing him at TH and EoS would have taught us a lot more, could have given them both a chance to move up the pecking order. If he wants a player in the squad that can cover TH and LH then play Porter there, as Bealham may not make a squad.
Ah sorry but I’d have respect for Ryan if he called as it was – ‘ that was total muck, totally unacceptable.. we need to take a hard look at what we’re about.. we can’t fix this in one game but we’ve got to improve next week” is what should have been said!! Sick of this small issues we can easily fix waffle
Don’t know why but think i would prefer Ryan to concentrate on his own game which is normally top class rather than be burdened by the captaincy at this relatively early stage in his senior career