'The best team won'
REACTION: The Connacht head coach Andy Friend admitted his team’s late slump proved costly during the semifinal 25-43 defeat to Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Irish side headed to Cape Town at the back of an incredible win over Ulster in the quarterfinal last weekend.
They showed great intent and stunned the 45 0000 plus spectators when they took an early 8-0 lead at the Cape Town Stadium.
The Stormers gradually took control of proceedings and charged to a 24-8 lead.
Connacht managed to stage a comeback, scoring four tries and trailing by six points with four minutes to play.
But despite dominating possession (71 percent) and territory (66 percent), a lack of concentration and numerous errors by the visitors saw the Capetonians score two late tries to book their spot in the final and end Connacht’s season.
After 5 years and 123 games, Andy Friend’s tenure comes to an end.
He leaves us after our best season since 2016, and so much to be excited about in the years ahead.
Thanks Friendy 💚 🫡 pic.twitter.com/rkiZrpMAKz
ADVERTISEMENT— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) May 13, 2023
“It is not the way we wanted to finish,” Connacht head coach Andy Friend said after the match in Cape Town.
“In the 77th minute, we were six points behind and honestly felt like we could sneak it because you could see how nervous the Stormers were.
“But then they found their mojo and we got into a little bit of a lull.
“It was a tit-for-tat sort of a game and in the end, the best team won.”
He added: “It was a brilliant occasion for our blokes.
“We run the defending champions pretty close and the scoreline did not reflect it.”
#ICYMI: Manie Libbok scored 23 points as the Stormers advanced to another URC Final 👇#Stormers #Connacht #STOvCON https://t.co/Aq7RRbEMgx
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) May 14, 2023
Bright future
The match was Friend’s last outing as Connacht’s head coach as he bids farewell to the Irish side after five years.
Fiend believed that incoming head coach Pete Wilkins along with his coaching team had the ability to take Connacht to the next level and make them a winning team.
“I loved my time here [at Connacht], the five years.
“But we don’t want to be the team that loses and everyone pats you on the back and says ‘you good little fighters’ because we are actually more than that.
“The way the club is going it’s just a matter of time where we will start winning big games.
“Wilkins is coming in as the head coach next season and with the coaching team he got there is an enormous opportunity to continue growing and in the not-so-distant future they will lift the trophy.”
