Connacht will treat Stormers visit as 'cup final', says Jack Carty

Jack Carty says Connacht must treat next weekend's clash with Stormers in the Dexcom Stadium as a "cup final".

Pete Wilkins side dropped outside of the BKT URC play-off places after a 47-12 loss to Munster, while rivals Ulster, Edinburgh and Benetton - as well as the Stormers - all won their round-16 games.

Connacht will face a Leinster chasing a top seed in the last round and the consensus is that two wins are now required for the Westerners to make post-season.

"Certainly so, we can’t look past Stormers," said out-half Carty.

"That comes down to it being a cup final next week for us. We need to get a win at home and send the fellas who are finishing up off [on a high].

"Then all eyes on the following week.

"If you look at what Stormers did to the Dragons, it was a similar sort of game, they punished them when they were loose.

"That’s where the focus will be for us this week. Being more accurate, set-piece, attack and D [defence], and be more clinical when we can be."

Head coach Pete Wilkins agreed that the game, the last tie at the Galway venue before redevelopment, is "must win" and says the squad, semi-finalists last season, still have belief.

"[Results elsewhere] obviously makes the Stormers a must-win game," he said.

"I am not afraid to say that.

"We have to ensure that we put ourselves back in a stronger position, and particularly with the other results, it doesn't help us.

"I have no doubt about the strength of character of the lads to respond next week, it's too big an opportunity and too big of an occasion for us as a club not to respond, but it frustrates me that we have to be looking for a response."

Connacht are back in the game just before the break. A fine pass by Jack Carty to find Byron Ralston. Try converted by