Bundee Aki potency provides the edge for Connacht

By Roger Panting

Cardiff …………… 19pts

Tries: Lloyd 16, Young 42, 58

Conversions: Thomas 16, 42

Connacht ……….28pts

Tries: J Murphy 13, Joyce 37, Ralston 54, Devine 65

Conversions: Ioane 13, 37, 54, Hanrahan 65

An impressive performance from Bundee Aki inspired Connacht to complete a perfect campaign as their fourth bonus-point victory ensured top seeding in the knock-out stages.

A spirited Cardiff, shorn of 15 injured players, made Connacht fight all the way but the visitors were good value for the win with Aki’s potency the big difference between the sides.

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins said: “It’s very satisfying as Cardiff are always incredibly difficult to play against with their defence very difficult to break down.

“Bundee is showing a real change of gear in recent weeks and despite having ticked every box in terms of achievement, he’s been very vocal about how important this competition is to us.”

Aki was central to his side’s game-plan by rewarding whole-hearted efforts from forwards, Cian Prendegast and Josh Murphy and major contributions from half-backs, Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane.

Cardiff were always struggling to keep in touch but they will be heartened by lively performances from young prop, Rhys Barrett, and two-try flanker, Thomas Young, but they weren’t helped by Ben Thomas failing to find two crucial touch-finders when it mattered most.

Connacht were first on the scoreboard when a sweetly-timed pass from Aki sent Josh Murphy on an unopposed 15m run to the line but the response was swift with Evan Lloyd crashing over from close-range.

However the Irish raised their game to dominate the second quarter with Joe Joyce’s converted try giving them a deserved 14-7 interval lead.

Second Half

Soon after the restart, Connacht were hit with two blows in quick succession. First Conor Oliver was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on before Young broke away from a ruck 20 metres out to level the scores.

Ioane hit a post with a penalty before Oliver returned in time to see Byron Ralston out-flank the cover for Connacht’s third.

Young supported a run from Ellis Bevan to keep Cardiff in contention but the visitors collected their bonus-point with a try from Matthew Devine to seal victory.

Cardiff were therefore left with a nervous weekend as their qualification for the latter stages lay in the hands of others.

Head coach Matt Sherratt said: “We could have kicked the goal at the end to get a point but wanted to be brave and try and get two as permutations were all up in the air. Defensively we were very brave but our first-half rearguard took our legs away in the final quarter.”