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Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Connacht and Zebre face off in URC basement battle
URC: Zebre v Connacht, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi , 5pm, live on TG4 Connacht and Zebre face off in the BKT URC's basement battle in Parma this evening with only pride at stake. Although a disappointing season for both clubs, the Italian outfit has shown significant improvement, and will be keen to claim a home win in this final fixture. It will not make any difference to the table with Connacht enjoying a six-point advantage, but Connacht's interim head coach Cullie Tucker says although 'it's not the way we wanted to finish the season, but we owe it to ourselves and the supporters to end the campaign with a win. 'Zebre are a good side who have made huge improvements this year, and they'll be keen to finish on a high as well.' READ MORE As a result Tucker is looking for a performance of accuracy, physically and discipline, and has made four changes from the side that lost to Edinburgh in their final home fixture. Three of those changes are in the pack with Joe Joyce named in the secondrow alongside Josh Murphy, with Shamus Hurling-Langton starting at openside flanker, having recovered from injury. The second change in the back row is number eight where Paul Boyle starts. In the backs the only change is the return of David Hawkshaw at outside centre for Hugh Gavin. Tucker has kept faith with the halfback pairing of Ben Murphy and JJ Hanrahan, while Finn Treacy and Shayne Bolton, scorers of three tries last week, continue on the wings. Former Argentinian fullback Santiago Cordero makes his final appearance for the club since making his debut for against the Stormers in May 2024. It has not been the best season for Connacht, with the disruption of head coach Pete Wilkins' departure, but Tucker says the ambition to win remains. 'We want to finish strong. We want to put out a good performance. We have a number of players leaving, coaches leaving, so it's about doing right by them and respecting them, and finishing in what has been a frustrating season on a high, and as high up the table as we can be. 'We would love to still be involved, and there was an outside chance last week, but ultimately whatever the 15 bonus points we picked up, we needed more to be in the top eight. It is what it is, and we just have to finish as strong as we can now.' However, there are incentives for some Connacht players who are in line for national selection. 'There is an Irish tour for which are number of them are being watched, and then the better we perform collectively, there is more of a chance individually to kick on. So there is a number being looked at and it's about us going out and delivering a good performance, collective performances make the individuals look better.' However, the team focus is finishing with a win. 'It is a game we want to win. Zebre can be very dangerous at home, so we are not taking them lightly.' A win could also see them move into a more respectable place on the table, which would be a welcome finish to what has been a disruptive and ultimately disappointing season. Zebre Parma: J Trulla, S Gregory, F Paea, D Mazza, S Gesi, G Montemauri, A Fusco, D Fischetti (capt), L Bigi, M Hasa, M Canali, LKrumov, D Ruggeri, B Stavile, G Licata Replacements: T Di Bartolomeo, PBuonfiglio, J Pitinari, G Volpi, G Ferrari, G Garcia, L Morisi, E Lucchin Connacht: S Cordero, S Bolton, D Hawkshaw, B Aki, F Treacy, JJ Hanrahan, B Murphy, D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham, J Murphy, J Joyce, C Prendergast (capt), S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle Replacements: E de Buitléar, J Duggan, J Aungier, D Murray, S Jansen, M Devine, C Forde, P O'Conor. Referee: Hollie Davidson.
Irish Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Gerry Thornley: Results suggest Ulster and Connacht on a worrying slide
For the first time in 31 years, there will be, at most, two Irish provinces in the Champions Cup next season, with Munster needing to beat Benetton in what is liable to be a taut night in Cork next Friday to ensure there will be two. But for Ulster and Connacht , their seasons are practically over, with next weekend's matches away to Edinburgh and Zebre rendered dead rubbers from their perspectives after missing out on the United Rugby Championship playoffs and being consigned to next season's Challenge Cup . That is nothing especially new for Connacht, whereas it must feel seismic for Ulster, given they were the 1999 champions and hitherto been ever-presents in the premier European competition. Yet, by the same token, in their own inimitably frustrating way, this feels like more of an anti-climactic season for Connacht. Think back to their opening game of the season, that sun-kissed, 35-33 rollercoaster loss to Munster at Thomond Park when new halfbacks Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane clicked on debut together, the lead exchanged hands seven times, Santiago Cordero felt like a new signing and Bundee Aki was still to come back into the mix. Connacht looked set for a promising and entertaining season. READ MORE That feeling was reinforced by a 36-30 comeback win at home to the Sharks (having trailed 27-7 at half-time) and a 24-23 win away to the Scarlets. As in the Thomond Park opener, there were then another couple of bonus points in a 32-27 loss to Ulster in Belfast. But, as is now abundantly evident, there were warning signs even then, most notably Connacht's ability to concede a truckload of points in quick succession, as well as score truckloads in spells. The latter was particularly true when all was seemingly lost, which perhaps tells us that either they had an inferiority complex or only then could they throw caution to the wind. Connacht were usually good to watch but were probably the most frustrating team in the league, both for themselves and their supporters. Connacht's Finn Treacy, Josh Ioane and Mack Hansen after the URC game against Munster at Castlebar in March. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho There was honour in defeat, as against Munster in their 27,000 Castlebar sell-out and Racing in their Challenge Cup quarter-final loss when the Parisians' bigger bulk beat an increasingly patchwork team into submission. But they were chances missed against 14 men for the majority of both games, and there were too many defeats, a dozen so far in 17 URC matches, with just five wins. Two seasons ago, in Andy Friend's final season, Connacht won 10 games and finished with 50 points in reaching the semi-finals, compared to 35 this season with one game to play. As nine try-scoring bonus points and six losing bonus points testify, Connacht were competitive, and they weren't that far away. Only three teams have scored more tries than their 61, namely Leinster (77), Glasgow (69) and Munster (63). But Connacht were far too easy to score against, and only Zebre and the Dragons have conceded more than their 460 points (Ulster have leaked 459). In mitigation, when Pete Wilkins temporarily stood down as head coach, before doing so altogether for personal reasons, it added to the backroom upheaval given the end-of-season departures of two other members of the coaching staff. Playing in front of a glorified building site where the Clan Terrace used to be on one side of the ground probably didn't help either. Also, last Saturday's 31-21 loss to Edinburgh followed the confirmation, by kick-off, that Connacht could not mathematically qualify for the playoffs and hence next season's Champions Cup. That must have taken the wind out of their sails. Even so, it was their fourth successive defeat and so completed another decidedly anti-climactic home finale to their campaign. They are now looking for a new head coach, and depending on his identity, a new defence coach, while the well-regarded Australian Rob Seib will arrive as a new senior assistant coach. Most of all, the opening of the new stand and completion of the Dexcom Stadium's redevelopment into a 12,000-capacity stadium at some point around Christmas or the new year, promises to be a huge boost for the squad, the organisation, the fan base and the province. And so they beat on. Tempers flare between Munster and Ulster during the URC game this month. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho Ulster have a bigger history and tradition, so their decline from coming within one play of hosting the final three seasons ago seems sharper and more alarming. That season, Ulster finished third in the URC table with 12 wins and 59 points. The following season, Dan McFarland's last full campaign, Ulster finished second with 13 wins and 68 points, before finishing sixth with 11 wins last season. This season they have won seven games so far. Like Connacht, they are just far too easy to score against, witness the 65 tries conceded (equal with Zebre, with only Dragons leaking more), and which compares less than favourable with the tallies of 34 and 49 tries against them in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Having previously dipped into the Leinster pathway with some success, Ulster's transfer policy, such as it is, has been woeful in the last three seasons, with a host of signings coming and going in the wake of a strong generation coming to an end following the retirements of Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Jordi Murphy, Duane Vermeulen, Ian Madigan and company, with John Cooney now departing. They are quick to hype up their players, perhaps too quickly, and it has to be said that Ulster has also developed a track record for not developing much-touted young players. The likes of James Hume, Robert Baloucoune and others have not fulfilled their potential, although Jacob Stockdale's return to form this season is a credit to him, and Cormac Izuchukwu's form since returning from injury demonstrates what they have missed in his absence. There are more players coming through, such as Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Ben Carson and Jude Postlethwaite, and Ulster's polishing of young talent ought to improve under such a renowned under-20 coach as Richie Murphy. The squad will be buttressed by the arrival of the 27-year-old Juarno Augustus, a former World Rugby Junior Player of the Year with the kind of age profile, power and work rate Ulster need. It would help hugely if Iain Henderson, Stuart McCloskey and others could stay injury-free. But it is still a callow looking squad and it looks like being a slow rebuild. gerrythornley@
Irish Examiner
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Connacht fightback falls short as Edinburgh inflict fifth defeat in a row
Connacht 21 Edinburgh 31 Connacht came from 14 points adrift to get level in the second half but never managed to get ahead and fell to a fifth successive URC defeat. It was visitors Edinburgh who kept their season alive by securing a bonus-point win at Dexcom Stadium. A frustrating final home game of the season in many ways summed up the Connacht campaign as they failed to make the most of opportunities while simultaneously leaking soft tries to an Edinburgh side who have kept their qualification hopes alive to the final round. Connacht knew beforehand that results elsewhere this weekend meant they could not qualify for the knockout stages of the URC or next season's Champions Cup, but Edinburgh had a lot to play for as they were still in contention. A warm sunny evening added to the end-of-season feel of the encounter on a night when Bundee Aki made his 150th appearance for Connacht at the end of a week where he was named a Lion for the second time. But it was the other Lion on the field, Edinburgh's loosehead Pierre Schoeman, who made the first mark when he drove over beside the posts after the Scots had walked their way down the field with three lineout penalties in a row. Ross Thompson added the conversion to make it 7-0 after eight minutes. Connacht enjoyed plenty of possession after that but sloppy handling proved costly and when they finally got in through skipper Cian Prendergast after 19 minutes, the try was scratched after a review spotted crossing from Sean Jansen in the build-up which took out a defender. Edinburgh doubled their lead after 27 minutes when winger Jack Brown put Hamish Watson away down the left and he dummied full-back Santiago Cordero to score in the corner. Thompson, who displayed an array of skills at out-half including one audacious flick-up when Cordero chipped, landed the difficult conversion from the left to make it 14-0. Connacht hit back after the restart and a superb break by Shayne Bolton set up the opportunity which ended with Finn Treacy racing in to score a try converted by JJ Hanrahan after 42 minutes. Treacy followed up with a second try ten minutes later when he ran a superb line to take a pop pass from scrum-half Ben Murphy and scored another converted try to tie the game at 14-14. Ben Muncaster drove over to make it 21-14 for Edinburgh after 57 minutes but Connacht hit back and after a good counterkick from full-back Santiago Cordero. The Argentine international who is departing in a couple of weeks then delivered the final pass for Shayne Bolton to get over in the right corner. Hanrahan, another who is departing, landed a brilliant conversion from the right wing to tie the game at 21-21 with 15 minutes left. But with the game hanging in the balance it was Edinburgh who seized the moment when replacement scrum-half Charlie Shiel broke from deep to score under the posts and they made the game safe when Ben Healy landed a 40-metre penalty at the death. Scorers for Connacht: F Treacy (2), S Bolton. Cons: JJ Hanrahan (3 from 3). Scorers for Edinburgh: Tries: P Schoeman, H Watson, B Muncaster, C Shiel. Cons: R Thompson (3 from 3), Ben Healy (1 from 1). Connacht: S Cordero; S Bolton, H Gavin (D Hawkshaw half-time), B Aki, F Treacy; JJ Hanrahan, B Murphy (C Blade 65); D Buckley (P Dooley 61), D Heffernan (D Tierney-Martin 62), F Bealham (J Aungier 62); J Murphy, D Murray (O Dowling 54-68); C Prendergast (c), C Oliver, S Jansen (P Boyle 54). Edinburgh: W Goosen; D Graham, M Currie, M Tuipulotu (F Thomson 56), J Brown; R Thompson (B Healy 73), A Price (C Shiel 68); P Schoeman (B Venter 62), E Ashman (P Harrison 64), D Rae (J Sebastian 50); M Sykes (G Young 72), S Skinner; B Muncaster (L McConnell 74), H Watson, M Bradbury (c). Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales).
RTÉ News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Cullie Tucker keeping quiet on Connacht head coach job
Cullie Tucker is keeping quiet on whether or not he will apply for the head coach role at Connacht. The province's scrum coach is in interim charge for the rest of the season, after Connacht confirmed the departure of Pete Wilkins with immediate effect last week. Wilkins had been on sick leave since March, with Tucker stepping up to lead the management team for the last five games, and he will remain in charge for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign. But, speaking ahead of Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with the Lions in Johannesburg, Tucker wouldn't be drawn on whether or not he will be putting his name in the mix for the permanent job. "My focus is on the Lions and not beyond that," he said. "It's too important a game [this week] so that's where all my energy is going into." The province remain in the hunt for the URC play-offs and Champions Cup qualification, although they may need to finish the season with three wins in a row to make a late surge into the top half of the table. Connacht came agonisingly close to a major win in Cape Town on Saturday, when Santiago Cordero scored a late try against the Stormers, the conversion of which would have won the game. However, their celebrations were cut short when the TMO cancelled the try for crossing in the build-up to the score. FT: STO 34-29 CON Connacht denied at the death. Santiago Cordero's try not given because of an earlier obstruction infringement. 📺 Watch a URC double-header, Stormers v Connacht and Munster v Bulls, on Saturday from 2.30pm on @rte2 and @rteplayer — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 19, 2025 The two bonus points picked up at the weekend could yet prove invaluable though. Bonus-points are the reason the province are still alive in the play-off hunt with three games left to play - they have earned 15 so far this season, more than any other side. "It shows the belief in the squad. We've areas we have to get better in, we're pushing them to be better every day and we had a harsh review of the game this morning. "If you keep showing up and keep creating, that's when you will get the rewards. I'd be very worried if we weren't creating [chances] and weren't in the fight but we are, so I believe that will come right for us. "The fact that we've scored so many tries and had so many near misses, we've 15 bonus points which is by far the most of anyone. It's just been fine margins at times that have cost us. "The character I've seen since I've come in as interim and the fight from the guys, I firmly believe the last three games we're in a great place to push for play-off. "That's the challenge, that's the motivation. We're still very much in the fight. While we wanted to take five points last week and probably deserved it, two points still keeps us very much in the hunt with three games to go. "So that's the carrot for us, huge motivation for us as a squad and the boys are already working hard towards that goal." While Tucker remains without Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen, they have been boosted by the return to fitness of centre Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton (below), who missed the defeat in Cape Town. Both are likely to be involved in Saturday's meeting with the Lions, which the Connacht coach is hoping can steer them up the table ahead of their final games against Edinburgh and Zebre. "It's a realistic possibility [to make the play-offs" said Tucker. "We're still in the fight, we're still in the hunt and that was the goal of coming on this trip. I was proud of the performance against the Stormers, they were relentless and kept coming back. "Once those traits are evident in them, we'll be in every battle, every fight. All going well, we'll be coming back from Africa with two games to look forward to. "They [Lions] gave us a good lesson in the Sportsground last year so we have to make sure that hurt is still showing as well. "But they're a very good side. Last year they were close on a lot of occasions, this year they have some brilliant individual players.
