Connacht have been dealt another blow ahead of a crucial clash against the Stormers, with the Irish province and Irish Rugby announcing the immediate departure of their head coach Pete Wilkins on Wednesday afternoon.
Wilkins has been with the side for eight years and has left his post while the squad is on tour in Cape Town with an important United Rugby Championship duel against the Stormers on Saturday (4pm kick-off). Cullie Tucker, scrum coach, will take over in the interim with another South African clash against the Lions waiting on them next weekend.
Despite the latest setback and some injury-enforced absences, Tucker said they will fight fire with fire when they take on the Cape side and their running rugby this weekend.
Although heavily depleted after losing backline stars Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen to injuries, and accepting that it’s a heavy loss to their attack, Connacht feel they have enough backup to fill the boots of their Irish internationals. Apart from the duo, Finn Tracey and Josh Ioane (flyhalves) and loose forward Shamus Hurley-Langton are also out injured.
They have Irish international Jack Carty as backup flyhalf and he could step up to face the Stormers again.
Tucker believes they will be able to cope without Aki and Hansen, although he said it’s a big loss not having them available.
“Looking at how we approach games and the Stormers with their X-factor, it will be a great game,” Tucker said about the attacking nature of both sides.
“We want to play a high ball-in-play time. We like to keep the ball, and we feel that is the best way to stress teams. The conditions won’t affect our style hugely.
“We will take whatever space is available whether it’s kick or run space. There is more heat here, but it has been warm in Ireland, so we must embrace it.
“Their playing style will also test our defence hugely, just look at the individuals around. The offload trade is significant.
“Whether it’s (Damian) Willemse running square or beating people with pace or Evan Roos who can do the same in the forwards. It’s a dangerous outfit and we must be connected in defence and ensure our one-on-one tackling and scramble defence is good.”
Tucker said the Stormers will make line-breaks and it’s in that part of the game where they will have to be good in their defence to halt them.
He’s also highlighted their scrum as an important part of the day, and as the coach there, he is happy Neethling Fouché is not taking part in it. Tucker described Fouché as a destructive scrummager.
“Thank God … that is what I’ll probably say about him not being available. I have incredible respect for him. He is a very destructive tighthead.
“At the same time, the tightheads they have in the team, like Frans Malherbe and Brok Harris, who can go over there, have a brilliant scrum, and we will have our work cut out for us. They can attack you in different ways, but we are looking forward to the challenge.”
