Pete Wilkins: 'Challenge Cup Has Always Been On That List Of Priorities'
Pete Wilkins: 'Challenge Cup Has Always Been On That List Of Priorities'
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins hails EPCR Challenge Cup win over Lyon as a confidence boost after URC setbacks. Key performances ignite team spirit, too.
'Relief and renewal' is how Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins described his team's EPCR Challenge Cup victory over Lyon in Tuesday's media availability.
The win not only boosted the team's standing in the competition, it also restored confidence after recent challenges in the United Rugby Championship on the back of consecutive Irish derby defeats over the festive period.
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Wilkins reflected on the significance of the result during media availability, acknowledging both the pressure and the payoff.
“Yeah, it was a bit of everything really," Wilkins said. "Certainly, relief was part of it, you know. Relief that we got the result was very important. Relief that we put on a strong performance and one that I think gave a lot more energy and belief back to our supporters, but also back to the players as well."
The victory over Lyon was crucial for Connacht after a tough loss to Ulster in the URC. Wilkins emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum.
“It was a really important game for lots of reasons, and you know, I’m pleased that we were able to put on the performance that we did," he said. "There was lots of incentive in terms of the couple of weeks that it had been and, you know, different storylines behind the scenes.”
Connacht’s impressive attacking display was supported by a cohesive performance across the board, with key contributions from Bundee Aki and Santi Cordero. Wilkins praised the partnerships emerging within the squad, particularly in the backline.
“I think there’s a nice element of Bundee and Piers (O'Connor) complementing each other in the centers,” he said. “Santi, when we signed him, it was with the hope of him being our first-choice full-back, and for different reasons, it’s taken a little while to get him sufficient time in the saddle there. So, I do think that was a factor in us attacking well.”
Despite the emphatic win, Wilkins remains cautious about drawing direct comparisons between the Challenge Cup and URC competitions.
“The type of defense we’re up against in Lyon, albeit with some high-quality players, is a different type of defense to an inter-pro defense that we might have come up against with Leinster or Ulster,” he noted.
Wilkins also addressed the shortcomings in Connacht’s recent loss to Ulster, where a lack of physicality and turnovers proved costly.
“I don’t think that there was a lack of effort against Ulster," he added. "I think in the end, we were beaten for intensity and physicality in that first 20 that accumulated them 10 points. But 21 turnovers - we just weren’t able to have the accuracy to finish them off.”
Looking ahead, Wilkins emphasized the need for consistent application and energy in the upcoming games, particularly with a pivotal Challenge Cup match against Cardiff on the horizon.
“It’s important this week that we’re able to deliver a similar level of application and energy without those narratives behind the scenes, and I think, in some ways, this week will be an even greater test of us walking the walk,” he said.
Balancing the demands of the Challenge Cup and URC is a delicate task, but Wilkins remains optimistic.
“For us, the Challenge Cup has always been on that list of priorities for this season," Wilkins said. "It’s an opportunity to win silverware, but, as we’ve said before, there’s a lot of teams that will be looking at it that way."
As for the URC, Wilkins acknowledged the uphill battle ahead, particularly with a challenging fixture against Glasgow looming.
“When you look at the points tally that we’re at, we’re a couple of wins behind schedule," Wilkins said. "We’re still looking at it very much with the team in terms of the next challenge, and when Glasgow away comes around, that’s a mighty challenge. But if we put on a good performance and get a win there, we’re most likely back in the top 8.”
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