Connacht staying positive despite heart-breaking defeat to Munster

Connacht captain Cian Prendergast believes the province can take a lot of confidence into this Saturday's meeting with the Sharks in Galway, despite a losing start to the season.

They came out on the wrong side of a 35-33 thriller against Munster at Thomond Park in the opening round of the BKT United Rugby Championship, but arguably should have won the game having led on four separate occasions.

The small consolation for Pete Wilkins’ side will be their two losing bonus points, while there were a number of standout individual performances from debutants Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy and Piers O’Conor, as well as Josh Murphy and Mack Hansen.

The province welcome the Sharks to the Dexcom Stadium this weekend, which will be a first URC game of the season for the South Africans, after they defeated the Lions in the Currie Cup final on Saturday.

Prendergast says while Connacht will be frustrated at how they couldn’t close the deal against Munster, they’re bringing a lot of confidence back to Galway.

"We have got to stay on an even keel," the captain said.

"I think last year we started off really well, we rode the rollercoaster going too high, then getting too low, then high again, so I think for us getting even keel, taking the good stuff, taking the bad stuff, learning from it and becoming a better side off the back of it for next week against the Sharks at home, which is a big home opener for us.

"We take pride in playing at the Sportsground and we are really looking forward to putting on a performance there next week."

The province will be without four of their starting side from Saturday for the Round 2 meeting with the Sharks, with Jack Aungier, Darragh Murray, Sean Jansen and Shayne Bolton set to link up with Emerging Ireland this