Connacht overpowered by the Chiefs
Connacht 24
Exeter 33
ONE scrum encapsulated the entire helter skelter contest in Galway on Sunday afternoon at the Sportsground, where England’s fifth ranked side gave Connacht a lesson in power and simplicity.
It was Exeter ball just inside their own half, and at three previous scrums they had obliterated Connacht, earning a penalty try in the process. We feared the worst but couldn’t have pictured it all the same. On this occasion Rodney Ah You was driven arse first into the air by Ben Moon as the home scrum crumpled.
That’s not a sight we’ve seen this year, and while the scrum is a complex area where little manoeuvres, legal or otherwise, can give a side an edge, even a novice could be forgiven for surmising that the 25-year-old former English Under 20 loosehead was giving the Ireland capped Ah You a schooling to which he hadn’t the answers.
This was a second defeat in as many weeks and a performance that was out of kilter with anything we have seen at the venue this season. It has been quite a while since a side dominated Connacht up front in such a manner.
The familiar feeling was there in that regard based on seasons yore, but the way in which Connacht conjured up some spectacular tries in response reminded us that this side isn’t going to revert to habits of old without a fight. Four tries, all stemming from some scintillating running, three in the first half for a 17-10 lead, meant that the five thousand or so supporters were kept captivated right to the end. Alarmed, but captivated.
Alarmed because this was a competition in which many felt Connacht might contend for a place in the final, especially after their win in Bayonne. Once Munster were dispatched on New Year’s day, it was easy to allow oneself to believe Cup final appearance might be within reach, yet with English sides accounting for five of the quarter final positions, based on their travails in this contest, it seems highly unlikely that Connacht will be able to challenge.
All is not lost of course in terms of quarter final qualification despite this defeat. Results went the way of the westerners at the weekend meaning that a win in La Rochelle (Saturday at 5:30 Irish time) of any kind will book a quarter final spot away to Gloucester – barring a bizarre result in Edinburgh where the hosts would have to earn two bonus points but lose to Begles Bordeaux.
Full report in this week's Connacht Tribune.