Pete Wilkins frustrated by missed chances in Connacht defeat

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins believes their lack of a clinical edge proved decisive, as the province fell to a 16-12 defeat to the Stormers in Galway.

The defeat all but ends their hopes of making it to the BKT United Rugby Championship play-offs, while they will also more than likely have to contend with Challenge Cup rugby in Europe next season.

Connacht had been 12-10 ahead with just under 15 minutes to play, only for the Stormers to out-muscle them in the final quarter, earning two penalties which Manie Libbok converted, to run out four-point winners.

But the Connacht boss was more concerned with the chances his team left behind.

"It was a very even game, I thought both teams were unbelievably physical, unbelievably urgent, as you have to be against these South African teams," Wilkins told RTÉ Sport.

"The access points for either team to build scores were few and far between, it was a great battle.

"Certainly, those couple of areas in that last quarter that allowed them two shots at goal were really significant in terms of the scoreboard.

"The bit I was more frustrated about was before that time, the opportunities, or potential opportunities we had in the attacking third of the field ourselves. We had two first-phase plays, one in the first half and one in the second half where we dropped the ball at the line, an immediate turnover.

"We had a lineout five metres out from the tryline where there was a bit of confusion, we ended up conceding a free-kick from it, and one or two other things on top of that.

"There's three or four or five chances for us to fire some shots, and against these really good, physical South African teams, you're not going to get lots and lots of access points to try and get some possession, and try