FORTRESS SPORTSGROUND

Connacht got up and running with a 41-5 cruise against Benetton Rugby, and coach Andy Friend wants to use that as a launchpad to make teams fear heading to Galway.

“We have said we want to make this place a fortress and this was a good way to start here. We have a lot to be pleased about but also know we have room to improve,” said Friend.

“We need to build on this now. Our set-piece was good, we have good competition for places so we just need to produce this sort of form every week and we will do ok.”

‘LACKLUSTRE’ BLUES SEEKING A SPARK

Cardiff Blues slipped to a disappointing 19-11 defeat against Edinburgh and John Mulvihill didn’t hold back in assessing the Blues display.

“We were pretty poor individually in defence and I thought we were a bit lacklustre in attack,” said the Blues head coach.

“We didn’t consistently mount pressure on the opposition. We didn’t mount phase after phase in attack, and that’s what we’re good at, so that’s disappointing.

“There were some basic errors on both sides of the ball that we just can’t have. Even at 19-11, scoring immediately would given us a chance, like we did last year, but we ran out of spark.”

First win at home ✅ pic.twitter.com/JwY2yc5M9c
— Paddy McAllister (@PaddyMcAllister) 6 October 2019