Connacht worried about Sharks’ back three
LEINSTER did not mention it, but Connacht are certainly aware of what is surely a trump card for the Sharks against the three Irish teams they are playing in a row, with the latter visiting Kings Park tomorrow.
We are talking about Sharks attack coach Noel McNamara, who knows most of the Irish players intimately, having been coach of the Ireland Under-20s for three years (2018-2020), and before that, the Leinster academy manager.
A number of the players that McNamara coached as juniors are now coming through in Ireland’s senior teams, and this was confirmed by Connacht’s assistant coach Peter Wilkins.
“Noel would’ve known a lot of our lads, and Cullie (Connacht defence coach Cullie Tucker) worked with Noel before at age-group level, and is looking forward to testing himself in trying to unlock his attacking plans for the Sharks,” Wilkins said.
“It adds to the excitement and intrigue.
“When approaching teams with X-factor like the Sharks certainly have, it is important not to give those players any one-on-ones, and to maintain our connections in defence, and to get numbers around the ball, and numbers around the attacker.
“The Sharks have got an electrifying back-three with pace and power, and they can certainly tear teams apart.
“But the Sharks are much more than their X-factor players – they are a powerful team built on a strong setpiece, and will be more comfortable taking that route (keeping it tight among the forwards).
“When it hasn’t clicked on attack, they’ll look to their maul and kicking game.”
Wilkins pointed out that few teams in the United Rugby Championship have managed sustained periods of attack against the Sharks.
“The Sharks provide an interesting challenge with their blend of structured and unstructured play,” said Wilkins, who had a coaching spell in Australia and won a Super Rugby winners’ medal with the Reds in 2011.
Connacht are in the interesting position of aiming for a clean sweep against the South African teams.
They beat the Bulls last year and also the Stormers, although the referee certainly seemed to assist them to get over the line in that one.
And then last week they beat the Lions 33-30 at Ellis Park. The Lions’ coaching staff were not amused about what seemed to be definite time-wasting tactics by Connacht, who did not want a fast-paced game at altitude.
But this week they are down to sea level, and they are likely to play an opposite, quick-tempo game, which is more natural to them.
They are also fully aware that the Sharks are desperate to win their last home game to cement a playoff spot before they conclude their campaign in Belfast against Ulster.
The Sharks are currently fourth, with two rounds to go, while Connacht are 10th and out of the running.
“We are definitely aware of the context, and the nice thing is that the more opposition teams are under pressure to qualify, the more it potentially plays to the opponents. But we also want to get wins and finish the season strongly,” Wilkins said.