European win can Brive life into Connacht’s season

Brive 31 Connacht 38

Europe could once again prove a catalyst for Connacht after Kieran Keane’s side overcame Brive to remain in the driving seat in Pool Five.

Needing a win to revive their season, Connacht secured full points in Stade Amedee-Domenech, showing backbone and determination to recover from a 16-point deficit after 30 minutes.

“I was confident they could come back strong,” said Keane, “so the message was don’t panic. We felt Brive were a little brittle in defence, so it was all about keeping possession and calm heads.

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“I’m thrilled for the boys, they deserved it. To go down by 16 early on, it showed character to keep calm, and build back into the game - very positive.”

Although Brive posted five tries to Connacht’s four, outhalf Jack Carty produced a near flawless kicking display, posting 23 points, 18 from the tee, including four penalties.

“I think the whole team mentally lifted their game. I thought we were up for it. We had taken a bit of a pizzling [WHIPPING]from various sources, and I think it was a pretty emphatic answer actually. We needed it. We had lost a couple of tight ones, and had some tough calls along the way, but we didn’t bleat. I’m just pleased for the players.”

Initiative

Brive, as expected, made it difficult up front, and one too many collapsed mauls handed them the early initiative as captain John Muldoon was yellow carded. Influential hooker Mike Tadjer, scrumhalf Florian Cazenave, and former French and Racing Metro prop Julian Brugnaut bagged three tries to lead 19-3 lead after 28 minutes.

With Matt Healy, Bundee Aki and Tiernan O’Halloran starting to find gaps, the Connacht fullback’s sidestep paved the way for Ultan Dillane to cross, before scrumhalf Kieran Marmion produced a trademark snipe, reducing the arrears to 19-17.

A Carty three-pointer put Connacht into the lead for the first time after the restart, and although Tadjer grabbed his second try, Carty produced the pivotal score, exploiting a a gap inside his own half to put Connacht back in front. The outhalf added a penalty, delivered the crossfield kick for Cian Kelleher, who claimed the fourth try, before a huge Muldoon tackle and Tom McCartney turnover was the first of many big moments in the final quarter to complete the victory.

Now Connacht must do it again next weekend. “These boys are grounded, so it’s good for the effort, the attitude, and the hard work they are putting in. We won’t underestimate Brive at home - and it will be nice to be home, it’s been a while.”

Scoring sequence: 6m, Carty pen 0-3; 15m, Tadjer try, German con 7-3; 24m, Cazenave try, Germain con 14-3; 28m, Brugnaut try 19-3; 31m, Dillane try, Carty con 19-10; 39m, Marmion try, Carty con 19-17. HT 19-17; 43m Carty pen 19-20; 44m Tadjer try, Germain con 26-20; 48m, Carty try, con 26-27; 59m Carty pen 26-30; 61m, Kelleher try 26-35; 67m, Cary pen 26-38; 70m, Namy try 31-38.

Yellow card: J Muldoon 14m.

Brive: G Germain, N Megdoud, S Galala, B Petre, G Namy, T Laranjeira, F Cazenave, J Brugnaut, M Tajer, D Bamba, J Snyman, J Uys, P Luafutu, D Waganiborutu, P Hauman (cpt). Replacements: F Sanconnie for Luafutu (HT); J Johnson for Bamba (47), A Mafi for Galala (54), SP Chauvac for Brugnaut (59), J Snyman for Marais (62) Ugalde for German, D Delarue for Cazenave (both 65), L Martinfor Tadjer (71),

Connacht: T O'Halloran, C Kelleher, P Ahki, B Aki, M Healy, J Carty, K Marmion, D Buckley, S Delahunt, F Bealham, U Dillane, Q Roux, C Gallagher, E Masterson, J Muldoon (cpt); Replacements: C Carey for Bealham (49), P McCabe for Buckley (59). T McCartney for Delahunt (62), D Leader for O'Halloran (71), J Cannon for Roux (76).

Referee: C Maxwell-Keys (England).