Connacht lead the way as provinces rack up wins
CONNACHT secured a third URC win in a row as Sean Jansen’s 57th-minute bonuspoint try gave them a 26-10 victory over Scarlets in Galway last night.
Pete Wilkins’ men would have wanted to be further in front after having a first-half wind advantage, but scores from captain Caolin Blade, Eoin de Buitlear and Jansen left them leading 19-7.
Despite Scarlets scrum-half Efan Jones marking his first URC start with a try, they were unable to build on that score during what was a stop-start second period.
Connacht’s Irish-qualified number eight Jansen effectively settled the issue ahead of the final quarter, as the westerners climbed four places in the table up to sixth.
The front rows were front and centre early on at Dexcom Stadium. Sam Wainwright did just enough to deny de Buitlear an initial try, before Jack Aungier broke a tackle and passed for Blade to finish off in speedy fashion in the fifth minute.
Following JJ Hanrahan’s conversion, Connacht used an eighth-minute turnover to attack from their own half, with good hands releasing 22year-old hooker De Buitlear to make it 12-0.
The Scarlets successfully disrupted two maul attempts from the hosts, but when De Buitlear tapped a penalty, Aungier’s swift pass allowed Jansen to drive in low and make it over the line.
A Tomi Lewis interception had Dwayne Peel’s charges building some phases, and a sudden burst by Vaea Fifita saw him feed summer signing Efan Jones on his inside for a 15metre run-in. Dan Jones converted.
Connacht had the best chance to score before the interval, but Andrew Smith just lost the ball from his grasp as he acrobatically dived towards the left corner, under pressure from Lewis.
Improved defence from the Scarlets, which saw Wyn Jones win a key breakdown decision and skipper Sam Lousi foil a Connacht maul, was duly rewarded with an early second half penalty from fly-half Dan Jones.
Experienced loosehead Wyn
Jones won penalties at the breakdown and scrum, but the Welsh outfit blew two line-out opportunities. Jansen then stung them with his second try, which was awarded after a potential knock-on from Denis Buckley was ruled out by TMO Stefano Roscini.
Knock-ons in advanced positions added to the Scarlets’ growing frustration, and Connacht were able to see out the game on their terms.
Meanwhile, an understrength Leinster side travelled to Cardiff and came away with a brilliant 33-20 victory, with two tries from player of the match Michael Milne.
The loosehead prop has long been flagged as one to watch and last night’s display will do his prospects of advancement no harm in a problem position for Ireland, with Andrew
Porter overplayed and Cian Healy on the last lap of a brilliant career.
Fellow front-row replacement John McKee also got over the tryline while flying winger Rob Russell scored the visitors’ first try in backline where Ross Byrne was calling the shots at out-half alongside his younger brother Harry at 12.
Elsehwere, in Ravenhill, Ulster had a comfortable win over the lowly Dragons, making light of the departure of their coach Dan McFarland.
The clean sweep by the provinces this weekend keeps them all in URC play-off contention whilst adding to the feelgood aura around Irish rugby at present.