Connacht edge step closer to Holy Grail

Date Published: {J}

CONNACHT 22

EDINBURGH 21

ROB MURPHY

SURELY this has won over the last of the doubters. A full-strength Edinburgh, free of European commitments coming to Galway holding second in the league table and looking for a home semi final.

Scotland have only two professional teams, their entire profes

sional programme channeled into two cities. Everyone of their pack that started at the weekend has worn the navy blue of Scotland and they don’t take Connacht lightly on any occasion.

They didn’t on Friday night either, this was only their second defeat in Galway in nine visits. In fact, it is hard to remember a better performance from a losing side at the Sportsground in recent years.

As a Magners League win, this was massive for Connacht and it has opened a Pandora’s box for one team just above them in the standings. Ulster lost for the fourth week in a row leaving just four points between the sides, Connacht have now accumulated more points than they managed last season in its entirety and they still have four rounds remaining.

Exciting times then and this hasn’t happened by accident.

Despite missing a hat full of front line pivotal players, Connacht once again defied logic with their work rate and mental strenght.

The six previous unbeaten home games played a role in helping them dig this result out late on with Miah Nikora’s brilliant kick, but the groundwork was done in the opening 20 minutes when Connacht simply steamrolled their opponents.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.