As Connacht prepare to commence another European assault with the visit of the Bordeaux Begles to the Sportsground on Saturday (13th October), Jack Carty’s form will be crucial in Andy Friend’s charges getting the perfect start.
The out half has had a good start to the season with 54 points and he just missed out on 12 successive kicks when he missed the conversion for Bundee Aki’s try in their historic win over Ulster on Friday (5th October).
Carty has worked on improving his game and his improved performances have been notably. And Galway Daily made him Number One in our first Power 10 list that was released on October 2018.
CONNACHT RUGBY: Galway Daily ‘POWER 10’ – September 2018 https://t.co/WJ0J0RzTQu
— Galway Daily (@GalwayDaily) October 1, 2018
“You could obviously say you are striking the ball well but fundamentally it comes down to the outcome, the stats,” said Carty to Declan Rooney in the Irish Independent. “I was very disappointed to miss the last kick at the weekend.
“My two previous kicks, when I was standing over the ball, were 26 seconds and 26 seconds (before kicking it) and the last kick was 19 seconds.
“I felt when I was lining up the kick that I rushed it and then when we went back and looked at it, it was much quicker. The length of time standing over the ball should be quite similar.
“I had been on a good streak, I think I had hit the last 11 in a row so it was disappointing to miss it, but it is just a good learning.
“This weekend will be different. The French teams historically are much more physical and you never know what sort of French team will travel.
“Over the years we have had teams battling relegation but with Bordeaux it is quite different, they are quite high up in the Top 14. They have something like 20 internationals in their squad.”
Connacht host Bordeaux Begles in their opening assignment in the 2018-19 European Challenge Cup on Saturday, 13th October. Kick-off at the Sportsground is 3pm.
