Pete Wilkins: Getting set for Cardiff

13 February 2024

Pete Wilkins: Getting set for Cardiff

This Saturday Connacht are back on the road in the BKT United Rugby Championship as they take on Cardiff in Cardiff Arms Park, kick off is 5.15pm.

Speaking ahead of the game was Connacht Head Coach Pete Wilkins.

"It's an interesting challenge for us, I always feel Cardiff and connacht are fighting for similar spots on the ladder when it comes to the end of the season"

"Both teams push hard to get in the top eight so games against each other tend to have a pretty big sway on how the season plays out for each team"

"I think they've got a really aggressive defence which will challenge us"

"Challenge us in terms of our skills under pressure and decision making like when to run and when to kick"

"They aren't a team that play with a huge amount of possession, they tend to kick a good bit out of their half but they are efficient at it"

"Playing away from home adds to that challenge but we're looking forward to it as a group"

At the half way point of the league Connacht sit in 9th place while Cardiff are 12th, only three points of Pete's team. Wilkins gave his assessment of where his team are at so far this season.

"We're tracking alright"

'We'd love to be up in the top four or top eight but with the nature of the draw where seven of those first nine games were against top half teams"

"I feel like we have a bit of a even ledger but I'm really excited about this second half of the season"

"If we want to finish where we feel we should we need to win games in this second half of the season especially against teams that around us at the moment like Cardiff"

The Connacht match day squad for Saturday will be named this Friday.