Henshaw the star as Connacht return to winning ways in style

Connacht 22Ospreys 10

Rob Murphy at the Sportsground

It is easy to be cynical and sometimes what is easy is also right, but leaving aside the tired, stale feel to this competition each Spring and the huge gulf in the form between top and bottom, the RaboDirect Pro12 at the Sportsground can still provide some moments of great sport.

Connacht rugby fans like their snapshot moments: Mark McHugh quietly slotting back into the pocket in Donnybrook 10 years ago when all Leinster bodies converged on Eric Elwood for the last minute winner is just one example; the 15 man lineout against Australia in 1998 is another.

There is a reasonable argument to add Robbie Henshaw’s late second-half tackle on Richard Fussell to that list as fans from the youngest to the oldest might just find that popping up in the memory bank 10 years from now as one of those “I was there” moments.The context is key: it was the 75th minute, Ospreys were rampant having looked beaten minutes earlier, the margin was just six points and Connacht needed relief.

Dan Parks launched a well judged garryowen that had Fussell looking like a fish out of water, he caught it to his credit, but half a second later, boom. Henshaw hit, the cavalry followed, game over.

There is a little more context, as this was the 19-years-old star doing the tackling after a virtuoso performance from full-back, it was what the crowd had come in hope of seeing. It’s not that he was man-of-the-match (a ridiculous concept in a sport that requires so many different skills) it’s just that he keeps backing up all the talk.

There is so much road ahead for Henshaw before we get to see how he fulfills this potential and each new level will test the preferred narrative of greater heights but for now, he’s simply a joy to watch.

Henshaw and co are appreciated by one of the league’s best support. The noise generated in the minutes after Kahn Fotualli’s 17th minute try for the visitors was something else and hugely encouraging. The crowd sensed a major hurdle for the team, 7-3 down and on a losing streak and this one could be crucial.

These huge crowds (200% increase on two seasons ago) are a massive credit to the Connacht Rugby branding effort, but they’re not just showing up to be entertained – they’re tribalistic, realistic and some might say a little fatalistic. For the most part, their team loses but they have hope and demand more for them.

If managed correctly and given time, this team has potential to develop and evolve: 13 squad members are out of contract at the end of season, a shake-up is coming and the core young talent is still there.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.