Connacht cut a sorry sight in crashing out of Europe

Benetton 41

Connacht 19

JOHN FALLON IN TREVISO

CONNACHT Director of Rugby Andy Friend lamented their collapse after the opening quarter as they bowed out of the Challenge Cup with a disappointing 22-point loss away to Benetton Rugby on Saturday.

The Westerners looked good for a 12th quarter-final spot in the competition when they raced into a 12-0 lead but they were blown away by the Italians after that.

They were unable to match Benetton’s intensity at Stadio di Monigo and made a tame exit from a competition where they were being regarded as potential winners earlier this season when the prospect of remaining in Ireland throughout the entire knockout season was in their control.

A dismal defeat away to a Newcastle Falcons side already eliminated back in January put paid to that prospect and after failing to perform in Treviso, the Challenge Cup final will be taking place at Aviva Stadium on May 19 without them.

“It is very frustrating,” said Friend. “I think it was 17 minutes and we were up 12-0 playing the sort of rugby we have been playing where we were just on top of teams and looking after possession, winning our own ball, making tackles, and then all of a sudden that seemed to go out the window and we are now out of the Challenge Cup which was something we had targeted to go much further on.

“I thought Treviso had done a pretty good scout on us. They looked to want to come back down shortside a few times. It was hot so we probably had some bodies which weren’t moving as quickly as they normally move and some of those early tries from Benetton were as a result of that.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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