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Pat Lam dismisses crisis talk at Connacht

Three defeats from three games is not what most had in mind when predicting how Connacht's defens...



Pat Lam dismisses crisis talk...
Rugby

Pat Lam dismisses crisis talk at Connacht

Three defeats from three games is not what most had in mind when predicting how Connacht's defense of their Pro12 title would go, but then again, nobody had predicted that they would end up champions last season.

After losing several key players over the summer, including internationals Robbie Henshaw, AJ McGinty and Rodney Ah You, coupled with three early season humblings, which could well have been four where it not for some poor Italian weather, talk of a crisis at Connacht has been rife. 

However, Pat Lam has moved quickly to dispel such talk in the wake of yesterday's defeat to the Scarlets in Wales which keeps them rooted to the foot of the table. 

“I’m not concerned if people talk about a crisis. I wasn’t concerned when people said we were great last season," he said speaking to the42.ie.

"I have a good saying off a mentor I work with, ‘I have no business doing what I do if I listen to people who have no idea or experience about what I do’.

“If I start listening to people then I’ll lose my focus on the job and then there will be a crisis.’

Niyi Adeolokun of Connacht evades the tackle of Steffan Evans of Scarlets in the lead up to scoring his sides first try
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Camerasport

“The only way we are going to improve is by keeping working on the things we can do, not beating ourselves up about what’s happened or wishing we’d like to be somewhere else.

“There’s no doubt confidence comes from winning, but the beauty of what we’ve set up is that the boys know that when we focus on our jobs we will improve.”

Lam will be hoping to pick up a wins against Edinburgh and Ulster before they embark on their European adventure, with their Champions Cup pool including Toulouse and Wasps as well as Zebre. 

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