Connacht hit new heights in epic win over Biarritz

Connacht 22Biarritz 14

Rob Murphy at the Sportsground

FOR Serge Blanco, this must have been sickening. The crux of his constant gripes towards Irish rugby is centred around the province’s large squads and the protection they can provide front line players by resting them before European competition.

That argument might wash against the big three, but he would have been the class clown had he dredged it up after this defeat. Missing six front liners and fielding academy starlets, Ireland’s fourth province took the Basque country outfit to task and sent them home with nothing.

What lies ahead ONFriday on the south west coast of France is unknown and could be uncontrollable as Yachvili, Harinordoquy and co left with bruised egos and plenty of reason to harbour a grudge towards their Irish opponents.

Will they throw their hat at this competition and focus instead on chasing a play-off spot in France or will they come seeking revenge? Will they analyse the videos and devise a way of getting to grips with this tricky Connacht scrum, of dealing with their breakdown prowess and savvy defensive tactics?

If they do, it could be a different story, if they don’t then Connacht have shown us that – even with a young inexperienced pack of rising stars like Eoin McKeon, Mick Kearney and Jason Harris Wright – they can go to the Blanco’s home town and possibly do the double.

The smart money will be against that, but the smart money was in the bookies back pocket on Saturday morning after Connacht produced a whirlwind display in front of the loudest and most electrified crowd the college road venue has ever seen.A total of 6,583 die hards, tribal followers, all bar a fe

w hundred following the team in green (and far too much grey) jerseys. The scene at the end as they climbed the railings on the main stand side to greet and salute their heroes encapsulated an amazing night.

There were momentum swings, lots of them. Biarritz shaded the first half possession and territorial stats, but Connacht had looked the more threatening of the two sides, the more cohesive and by far the more unified.

In the first half hour, Eoin McKeon was inspired at No 8, the young Galwegian tackled tirelessly and led by example. Mike McCarthy’s return was helping too but the hidden work from the likes of Willie Faloon and Jason Harris Wright was crucial in the early stages.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.