Special occasion at Arms Park

Connacht Rugby coach Pete Wilkins hailed the best atmosphere he had ever experienced at the Arms Park following his team’s hard fought 16-12 victory over Cardiff Rugby.

It was an emotional occasion at the famous old ground amid a moving pre-match tribute to Wales and Lions legend Barry John who passed away at the age of 79 earlier this month.

Members of his family and former Cardiff team-mates lined up on the pitch as a minute’s silence was followed by a minute’s applause, with Sir Gareth Edwards laying out a jersey in memory of his long-time half-back partner.

It was also regional clubs day, with some 3,700 junior players, coaches and supporters from 47 community clubs in attendance as part of a 12,000 full house.

The packed crowd saw Cardiff overcome a 14th minute red card to centre Rey Lee Lo and a subsequent yellow for No 8 Lopeti Timani to lead going into the final quarter thanks to tries from Ben Thomas and Timani, with Player of the Match Thomas Young delivering an inspired display at openside flanker.

But Connacht’s mounting pressure finally told with replacement prop Peter Dooley claiming what proved to be the decisive converted score in their first win at the Arms Park since February 2017.

Reflecting on the occasion, Wilkins said: “You often have a minute’s silence or a minute’s applause. It’s the nature of life unfortunately.

“But knowing the significance of Barry John in this part of the world and the respect for him, we knew it would be huge.

“Often you see the response not just from the team you are playing against but the whole feel of the place and it was definitely like that.

“I’ve never seen it as full as this here and the atmosphere was just terrific. They are the sort of environments you get excited about competing in. It’s obviously tough when you are up against it, but it’s a brilliant advert for rugby and for Cardiff as a club.

“You had a really passionate home crowd on a massive occasion for this club which we have so much respect for.

“It’s the best atmosphere I have ever experienced here at the Arms Park. It was tremendous.

“You had the spirit shown by the Cardiff side, the occasion in terms of everything that was going on around it and I think the red card added even more fire to their belly.

“So I was delighted to win it. In seven years with Connacht, I have never won here. It’s a tough place to come and play.”

Giving his thoughts on the turn-out, Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said: “I can’t thank the supporters enough.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a packed Arms Park in a Six Nations period where there is a lot of rugby going on.

“The players are showing their spirit, but our fans are showing their spirit as well. It genuinely makes a huge difference to the players. Pre-match, you can smell it in the changing room.”

On the game itself, he said: “We’ve got 12 in the Wales squad, we’ve got a couple of injuries, we had Connacht coming here pretty much fully loaded bar two, we are down to 14 men after 15 minutes.

“A lot of teams would have rolled over and taken 50 points there, but that’s not this Cardiff team.

“I still thought we could have won the game with 14. It’s hard because I know what the players have put into it.

“It was a pretty dejected changing room, if I am honest. We are in the game to win, so of course you are disappointed straight after.

“But you go down a man, you play 65 minutes against a good team and you get a point, it may be a point gained rather than four lost.”

Cardiff have now picked up eight bonus points this season, the joint most in the league along with the Emirates Lions.