Connacht have been hailed as “the real deal” after moving to the top of the BKT URC table.
Pete Wilkins side produced a 22-20 comeback victory over Ulster in their inter-pro meeting.
Connacht are the only team to have won their opening three league fixtures. The DHL Stormers and Edinburgh having joined Ulster in going down to their first defeats of the season last weekend.
Things didn’t look too promising for Pete Wilkins’ team when they trailed 20-3 early in the second-half in Galway. That was after half-backs Jake Flannery and Dave Shanahan had crossed for the visitors.
Indeed, Connacht fought back through touchdowns from centres Cathal Forde and Tom Farrell. Try machine winger Diarmuid Kilgallen going over six minutes from time to secure the win.
Former Scotland captain John Barclay was working on the game as a TV pundit for Viaplay and was mightily impressed with the west of Ireland team.
“I think Connacht are the real deal,” said Barclay. “Their skill-set, their organisation, their cohesion is brilliant.
“It’s really hard to come back when you are that many points down. 17 points down, but they just stuck to their game plan and controlled the second-half” added Barclay.
“They are physical, they are really organised, their contact skills are brilliant and they have an ability to find space and get the ball there. I thought they were superb and they are going to be really hard to beat this year. They looked brilliant.”
Just behind Connacht in the table are reigning champions Munster who ran in seven tries. Including a brace from wing Calvin Nash, as they dispatched Dragons RFC 45-14 in Cork.
Leinster score important victory
As for Leinster, they look to be very much back on track. Despite being without their Ireland World Cup stars, Leinster recorded a 36-27 bonus point victory over a strong Edinburgh team.
Elsewhere, the Vodacom Bulls became the first South African side to record a victory on European soil in the BKT URC this season. Bulls beating Zebre Parma 54-29, with a hat-trick of tries from centre David Kriel.
However, the three other South African franchises all went down to defeat on the road. Whereas, the DHL Stormers and the Hollywoodbets Sharks lost to Glasgow Warriors (20-9) and the Ospreys (19-5) respectively on Friday night.
In Sunday’s final match of the weekend, the Emirates Lions were beaten 15-10 in Treviso. As Benetton maintained their unbeaten start to the season.
It means the South African sides have recorded just one victory between them from their eight matches in Europe so far and all four of them are away from home once again in Round 4.
