Resolute defence as Connacht pass Montpellier test

Date Published: 20-Oct-2009

CONNACHT supporters can afford to live in hope once more. The last two weeks have transformed a bleak situation into one with a dim possibility of better days ahead. Montpellier’s victory away to Worcester set the pool alight on day one and now this stunning away win in France has swung things towards the men in green.

There is much work to be done, but home wins overWorcester and Montpellier and an away triumph in Madrid will guarantee top spot, a few bonus points there and maybe one in Worcester and a home quarter final could well be secured, as they would likely take their place among the best four of the five pool winners.

Just imagine that. For the first time in five years – since a drubbing by Sale in the Challenge Cup semi final – the Sportsground would be hosting a serious meaningful knock-out rugby match with a big name visitor, television cameras, and a genuine rugby buzz in the city.

It’s not getting carried away to imagine that either, while away wins have been secured in France on umpteen occasions only for little to follow this one seems different because of how the pool has panned out to date. The Connacht men have been handed a lifeline and have two games against Worcester in December to grab hold of it and drag themselves forward.

In dry conditions at the dazzling State Yves Du Manoir stadium, the men in green produced a display of open running rugby combined with spirited defence – especially in a nail biting final few minutes – which saw them secure a famous away win.

The westerners outscored their opponent by three tries to one in a frenetic match that saw…