Bernard Jackman: Connacht defence a concern for restructured coaching ticket

Bernard Jackman says Connacht's coaching restructure could count for little unless they can plug their leaky defence ahead of the new United Rugby Championship season.

Andy Friend has been promoted to director of rugby with Peter Wilkins taking over as head coach as part of a coaching reshuffle out west.

Wilkins, who worked as defence coach for four seasons before moving up to senior coach last season, will again take primary responsibility for defence.

Connacht had the sixth-worst defence in last season’s URC, conceding 67 tries in 18 matches – almost double that of Munster (34) and Ulster (34), with Leinster (31) boasting the best defence.

They shipped 57 points in their pre-season opener against Castres on Wednesday and having been handed a tough start to their URC campaign, playing all of their provincial rivals along with away games against last season’s finalists, the Stormers and Bulls, in their opening five matches, Jackman fears their defensive frailties could be exposed.

Speaking to RTÉ 2FM's Game On, former Connacht hooker Jackman said: "There has been a softness to them defensively for the last four or five years. They are capable of defending well but unfortunately when things don’t go their way they can ship a lot of points.

"We saw that on numerous occasions last year. The most high profile was in the return match against Leinster [in the Champions Cup] at the Aviva Stadium.

"There were times during the URC as well, particularly in Galway, where the floodgates opened up and they were very porous.

"Wilkins has gone back to defence, that’ll be interesting for him. You’d wonder if maybe a new voice needed to come in there, he obviously had the reins [before].

"The most important thing for Connacht is that this