Connacht need quick response to maintain play-off push

With only six games left in the regular BKT URC season, Connacht have slipped out of the play-off spots and face a challenging away trip to Benetton this weekend.

Despite having a numerical advantage for three quarters of the 38-14 home defeat to the Lions last weekend, the hosts were easily contained.

Tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye was rightly sent off after 17 minutes for a high tackle with a high degree of force to the head of Conor Oliver, who was unable to finish the game.

It wasn't a straightforward decision however, as a Connacht foot made contact with the ball from a trick play on a tap and go move, prompting Ntlabakanye to rush up off the defensive line early, forcing a bit of mistimed contact with Oliver in an uncontrolled manner.

If anything, the flanker was still rising from picking the ball up and if there was any change in body height, Oliver was actually getting taller and therefore making the legal area for the tighthead prop even bigger.

The tackle was a bit unorthodox, but rightfully red-carded as Connacht crossed for their opening try to draw the game level at 7-7.

With the wind at their back and an extra man, you’d think that Pete Wilkins' side would have settled into the game and start building a lead, but it wasn’t to be.

They struggled to cross the gain line in attack, with the credit going to the Lions for their aggressive and low body height in the tackle, aside from the earlier incident.

The red card certainly galvanised them as a team and they raised their energy to continue challenging Connacht in many aspects of the game.

They took the lead in the first half, scoring off a six-man maul. Connacht were somewhat loose with the ball in attack and gave the Lions an opportunity to gain territory. They