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Captain John Muldoon at full-time. Dan Sheridan/INPHO
DISAPPOINTED

Lam laments basic errors as Connacht's RDS hoodoo extends to 12 years

The Connacht head coach admits his side weren’t at their best this evening.

PAT LAM EXPRESSED his disappointment at Connacht’s below-par performance as the western province slipped to a 24-13 interpro defeat to Leinster this evening.

The visitors surrendered a six-point lead and were guilty of shooting themselves in the foot as a series of uncharacteristic mistakes let them down.

Connacht have yet to taste victory at the RDS and they were largely the architects of their own downfall on this occasion, leaving Lam frustrated at full time.

“Leinster were the better side,” the Connacht head coach said.

“When we were putting pressure on, we had a phenomenal amount of turnovers which is disappointing because it affects our whole flow.

“Every time we tried to put pressure on, we made a mistake. Ultimately, we’re disappointed with our own performance. Certainly at times, we didn’t have the right shape in attack. That’s when we become pretty average.

“Going into the close of play, we needed to be ahead and apply the pressure but again from our own mistakes, that cost us.”

Craig Ronaldson’s two early penalties were just reward for Connacht’s bright start but the centre’s withdrawal on 19 minutes with a head injury coincided with Leinster’s comeback.

From that point, the hosts dominated at the breakdown and Connacht’s explosive running game failed to click in the face of Leinster’s stubborn defence.

The Connacht team huddle after the game Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

“We were 6-0 and they worked their way back to 9-6 with some penalties and we were pretty accurate around our breakdown at the start of the game,” Lam continued.

“And then we were slow and credit to them for putting pressure on and they got penalties. 9-6 it was going both ways but every time we tried to put pressure on we would make a mistake.

“We’re ultimately disappointed with our own performance and at the end there that’s a killer. Even at 17-6, I sent out a message saying ‘fellas we can score two tries’ but we ate up six minutes by losing the ball and scrummaging and resetting and resetting.

“It was the execution, more around the pass or handling and the boys know. We are gutted that we weren’t at our normal high standards.”

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