Finlay Bealham reveals 'tough words' between Connacht players after Munster loss

You wouldn't blame the Connacht forwards if they had some choice words for the backs this week.

The Westerners’ set-piece has been much-improved this campaign, topping the BKT United Rugby Championship charts for lineout wins and with a 96% success rate on their own scrum feed.

There have been major issues behind the scrum, however. Connacht head into Saturday’s crucial game against Benetton with the unwanted tag of the worst attack in the URC, averaging less than 17 points per game.

The free-flowing attacking style that Andy Friend’s side are famous for has been absent this season, and five defeats in eight games means their top-eight hopes are fading fast.

Have the forwards had a word with the backs to sharpen up?

"We always associated Connacht as being this free-playing, free-spirited attacking side, and it has changed." Murray Kinsella analyses Connacht's struggles in attack against Munster. #RTERugby #AgainstTheHead pic.twitter.com/fUtszpWxN5

"We had a few tough words on Monday [after the loss to Munster]," said prop Finlay Bealham. "Not just on that but in plain general. We got a lot of messages out there, lads got a few things off their chests and had some really honest conversations.

"We always back Jack [Carty] and the rest of the backs to do their thing. They’re all incredibly talented rugby players. We’re in the meat grinder at the front, just putting the head down and pushing, doing all that pretty stuff.

"I’m always going to back those boys, whatever they do. I’ll just keep my head in the dark places. It’s probably what I’m good at."

He certainly is. Bealham's stock has been steadily rising and the tighthead has proven a more than capable deputy for Tadhg Furlong at international level. The 31-year-old again