Connacht get the job done with battling win over Brive

Connacht  21

Brive  17

THE main objective last Saturday was simple. Don’t lose. Connacht really needed to just get through their European Challenge Cup tussle with Brive still intact, still on track in terms of momentum ahead of the mother and father of inter-provincial derbies that awaits them this weekend.

They achieved their goal, avoiding defeat meant the win streak is now at seven. The wind remains in their sails and the tall stands of Thomond Park are coming into view. Saturday wasn’t a day to worry about bonus points, although they should have had one or denying losing bonus points. It was for getting the win and taking stock.

The stocktaking, however, has yielded some worrying results. Most notably, Nepia Fox Matamua who is sidelined with what looks like a pretty serious knee injury. A natural openside is key to Lam’s plans and his two first choice options are now out.

Andrew Browne, Ben Marshall and Eoin McKeon all trudged off at different points as well. In a frantic finale here, Connacht had five front row forwards on the field and found themselves desperately defending a four point lead in their own 22.

They didn’t break, they didn’t lose and despite all the worries, they head south this Saturday with real confidence and a bucket load of wins to back that up. This is year three under Pat Lam and the improvement continues.

The influence of skills coach Dave Ellis, backs coach Andre Bell and head of fitness Paul Bunce cannot be underestimated while new forwards coach Jimmy Duffy seems to have picked up where Dan McFarland left off. Conor McPhillips also remains a key cog in the area of analysis as well as in his new coaching role.

Lam is in his element at the moment and the management team he has assembled are delivering behind the scenes. The trip to Russia and the fiasco of the journey home seems to have only galvanised the squad further. In two European games, 28 players got a start, these are unchartered waters.

On the Challenge Cup front, Connacht are sitting perfectly with back to back fixtures against Newcastle up next in mid-December. They are targeting top spot and a home quarter final and in a tight group they have a fighting chance.

After a scoreless first half hour on a crisp night at the Sportsground, the game came to life with a Brive pushover try. That sparked a response and a fine try from Rory Parata after a Jack Carty crossfield kick. The Athlone out half notched two penalties for an 11-6 half time lead and when second row Ben Marshall got over in the corner early in the second half, all seemed set for a romp.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.