Lancaster era gets off to a flyer against Benetton

Benetton 15

By JOHN FALLON at Dexcom Stadium

CONNACHT’S efence against a strong Benetton side was one of the most pleasing aspects for new coach Stuart Lancaster as they opened their URC campaign with a bonus point win at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts conceded tries at the start and finish of the second half, but some strong and disciplined tackling close to their own line prevented several tries and meant they bossed matters for most of a bruising encounter.

“I think defensively was the big marker for me compared to last year where you know Connacht would score but then concede tries and lose big games. So that was the bit that really sort of pleased me the most,” said Lancaster.

“One of the stats I showed the players from last season was the number of try-saving tackles we made last season and I think we've equalled it in one game. But defensively generally our mindset to defend the line, to put in a strong performance in front of our home supporters, I thought it showed.

“Treviso are a very good team, they're very physical, very big but we kept getting off the line and held our nerve.” Lancaster felt the work Connacht did in pre-season served them well as they got their campaign off to an encouraging start.

“I thought we deserved the rewards really from the work not just today but the work the lads have put in in pre-season since our first day.

“If you said at the start of the day when I saw the Treviso team, and how strong they were, that we would come away with a bonus point win I would have taken it.”

Skipper Paul Boyle led from the front as the Lancaster era in charge of Connacht got off to an encouraging start. Connacht, even without their three Lions, were on top in the key areas and while Lancaster will no doubt see plenty of room for improvement, they did more than enough to craft a deserved win and give momentum to the feelgood factor which has prevailed since the former England coach’s shock appointment in June.

Connacht, despite conceding nine penalties to four for Benetton, led 12-3 at the end of an opening half which lasted 58 minutes thanks to a string of injuries, endless stoppages and constant reviews by the officials.

The strong start which Lancaster wanted was duly delivered by a solid set-piece and a backline full of good running which yielded two tries in the opening quarter before Benetton got a foothold in the game.

The disjointed nature of the half was impacted by injuries which saw Benetton lose international loosehead Ivan Nemer after less than two minutes while Connacht had to draft temporary replacements with Dave Heffernan coming in for hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin and Cian Prendergast replacing Shamus Hurley-Langton.

But out-half Josh Ioane did not return after taking a hit when he tried to tackle Louis Lynagh, which was a real pity as the one-cap All Black was outstanding until that incident after 25 minutes.

Lancaster entrusted the kicking duties to centre Cathal Forde and Ioane, who did not have a good maiden campaign off the tee last season, concentrated on what he does best, attacking with sharp line speed and neat steps and he caused havoc to the Benetton rearguard.

He got the opening try after eight minutes after Niall Murray stole a lineout to set up a 16-phase move which ended in the left corner with Ioane timing his run to perfection to score. Forde landed the touchline conversion for the perfect start.

There was a double blow for Benetton as former Munster centre Malakai Fekitoa was binned for a high hit on Tierney-Martin in the build-up but, like last season, Connacht struggled on the restart despite having an extra man and the Italians reduced the deficit when Jacob Umaga converted a penalty, their third in a row, from 25 metres.

A superb turnover penalty from scrum-half Caolin Blade ended with a move which saw Ioane jink his way through the Benetton cover before sending academy full-back Seán Naughton, in his first start for the province, in for an unconverted try.

Benetton enjoyed a lot of possession in the second quarter but were unable to break a resolute defence despite Chay Mullins’ yellow card for a deliberate knock-on after 26 minutes, although it took a superb tackle from Shayne Bolton to deny winger Onisi Ratave in the left corner when he forced the Fijian into touch before he touched down and that left Connacht 12-3 in front at the interval.

Benetton struck for a try within a minute of the restart when a strong run from Italian centre Tommaso Menoncello cut the home defence open for Lynagh to race in and cut the gap to 12-8.

The Italians had skipper Michele Lamaro binned for a high hit which eventually saw Byron Ralston taken off for a HIA — their 6/2 split meant Ben Murphy came on at scrum-half and Blade went to the wing — and Connacht got their third try after going to the right corner with the penalty.

Benetton contained the initial surges but conceded a penalty in front of the posts and hooker Tierney-Martin tapped and went, cleverly using the post to get over, dummying to go right of the padding before switching across and touching down on the other side.

Forde added the extras to make it 19-8 before Ratave was again denied in the left corner after an intercept at the other end, with Blade and Mullins doing enough to force the winger into touch after 50 minutes.

Connacht’s discipline was much better in the second half which helped them saturate a lot of Benetton pressure in the third quarter.

Debutant prop Fiachna Barrett had a try scratched on review after 66 minutes when the 22-year old from Geesala in north Mayo was pinged for a double movement before scoring beside the left post.

But the bonus point was secured seven minutes from the end when a jinking run down the right from the excellent Blade led to a penalty and from the tap Barrett set up Sean Jansen who barged through to score and wrap up the perfect start for Lancaster, although he will be irked that replacement scrum-half Alessandro Garbisi got in for a converted try in the final play of the night.

Connacht have a chance to build further momentum when they host Scarlets in Galway on Saturday afternoon and Lancaster said they have a lot to work on.

“It’s a matter now of getting ourselves ready now for a Scarlets team that's going to be obviously disappointed having lost their first game,” he added.

Connacht: S Naughton; C Mullins, B Ralston (B Murphy 46), C Forde, S Bolton; J Ioane (J Carty 25), C Blade; P Dooley (J Dooley 50), D Tierney-Martin (D Heffernan 10-21, 50), S Illo (F Barrett 50); N Murray (J Joyce 47), J Murphy (D O’Connor 70); P Boyle (c), S Hurley-Langton (C Prendergast 12-23, 57), S Jansen.

Benetton: M Gallagher; L Lynagh, T Menoncello, M Fekitoa, O Ratave (P Odogwu 65); J Umaga, L Werchon (A Garbisi 65); I Nemer (M Spagnolo 2, Ferrari 76), S Maile (R Asiata 50), S Ferrari (T Pasquali 54); N Cannone (R Favretto 54), E Snyman; S Negri, M Lamaro (c), S Fa’aso’o (L Cannone 54).

Referee: Chris Allison (South Africa).

Pictured: Connacht's Shayne Bolton is about to secure possession against Benetton in the United Rugby Championship encounter at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday night. Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy.