Second string Connacht defy the odds in dramatic win over French hosts

Bayonne 27

Connacht  29

A thrilling late fightback saw Connacht deliver a fourth successive victory in the south west of France on Friday night to keep their hopes of a Challenge Cup home quarter final very much alive, but perhaps more importantly to maintain momentum heading into the toughest Christmas period the province has ever faced.

Pat Lam’s young guns delivered a remarkable result in the Basque Country on Saturday night against all the odds, considering the former Samoan international had changed his entire starting line up for the fourth round pool game. The six day turnaround to the biggest test of the season so far, at the RDS against Leinster, was the primary concern, but they went to France with a plan and, it seems, a whole lot of belief.

Connacht trailed from the third minute to the 77th minute of the contest, they were 14-3 down midway through the first half, after conceding two tries that were in part down to errors, and for all the world it looked like the much changed starting line up were going to have a tough evening in front of the 4,980 supporters at Stade Jean-Dauger.

The fightback started with the first of two tries for one of the stars of the night Caolin Blade. The Monivea flyer finished off a brilliant break and pass, off his weak side, from Darragh Leader under the posts. Miah Nikora added a conversion and two penalties to leave the half time deficit at a paltry one point, 17-16 to the hosts.

The second half started very badly for Connacht with a loose kick and a string of missed tackles, leading to the concession a second try to Pierre Sayerse, and to all intents and purposes it looked as though Connacht were heading for a second away defeat in this competition by the 50 minute mark when Christophe Loustalot notched another penalty to make in 27-16 at that juncture

An 11 point deficit would have phased many a Connacht team in the past, but Lam has instilled a sense of belief in his squad in recent months and the arrival of Mils Muliaina and co seems to have added to that. The much-changed westerners looked the part in the final quarter, they followed the systems, played a high tempo, skill infused, offloading game and took advantage as Bayonne tired.

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