Claims of underhand tactics levelled at Connacht in wake of Ellis Park win
Connacht coach Andy Friend was the picture of innocence, claiming in his post-match media briefing that every injury stoppage was legitimate.
However, the Lions’ coaching staff and players were frustrated with what they felt were ‘clear and obvious’ delaying tactics to minimise the impact of altitude.
Connacht became only the second Northern Hemisphere team to win in South Africa in the United Rugby Championship this season, after a late penalty by flyhalf Jack Carty sealed a hard-earned 33-30 win over the Lions at Ellis Park.
The Lions, the only South African team to taste defeat in Round 16, were made to pay for a slow start and unnecessary errors – allowing Connacht to record their third victory over South African opposition in the URC this season.
Their other two victories were both at The Sportsground in Galway – against the Stormers (19-17) and the Bulls (34-7).
The Lions were not amused by the Irish province’s tactics at Ellis Park at the weekend – with a multitude of injury stoppages before set pieces and lengthy conferences before every line-out turning the game in a drawn-out stop-start affair.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen felt there was a clear theme in the Irish team’s tactics, slowing down play at every set piece.
“They got away with it,” Van Rooyen told a post-match media debrief.
“I felt there were a couple of times when the game could have continued,” he said, adding: “Obviously if it is a front row [forward] the scrum can’t continue.
“However, if it is a general forward – on their ball or our ball – the game should probably continue.”
He admitted they got “quite excited” in the coaching box about the obvious delaying tactics, because the stop-start nature of the game suited the Irish side at the 1,750-metre (5742 feet) altitude of Ellis Park.
“We wanted to build pressure and maintain that pressure,” the Lions coach said, adding that his own team’s error count also allowed the visitors additional “rest”.
Connacht coach Andy Friend was adamant the ‘injuries’ were all genuine and not part of some elaborate scheme to slow the game down.
“We had two HIAs [head injuries],” he said, adding that one player returned to the playing field and another failed his sideline head injury assessment.
“One of our loosehead props copped a knock to his eye in the warm-up and his eye closed over.
“We had our battles out there to keep 15 fit players on the park and it was more coming our of our forwards.”
He described it as part of the game.
“It is a physical game, as you know,” Friend told @rugby365com. “Sometimes you pick up injuries and we had a few in this game.”
Star flank Cian Prendergast admitted altitude was a factor, but praised his teammates for “staying in the fight” and having the “last burst to win the game”.
The Lions coach said it is something they will address in their ‘review meeting’, while they will again touch on the subject during their ‘preview meeting’ with match officials on a Thursday.
Van Rooyen said New Zealand and Australian teams used similar tactics during Super Rugby – manipulating the ‘time off’ period around set-pieces.
“It is a clear tactic coming here [to Ellis Park],” he said, adding: “I can’t go against a medical doctor, but when you see two or three [players] falling down simultaneously you will always ask questions.
“If they get away with it and match officials allow it, then kudos to them.
“In our review process, we will look at that and get feedback and share the feedback with the team – learn from it and be better prepared.”
Lions skipper Burger Odendaal admitted the delaying tactics “frustrated” him, while the referee’s constant warnings to both teams never resulted in any action.
“They got under our skins as well,” Odendaal said, adding: “Our disciplinary record in the competition has been good, but in this match, our discipline let us down.
“However, I felt there were no consequences for them [their tactics] and one or two calls that may have gone our way.”
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments