RUGBY FRIENDLY Connacht 26 Samoa 22:IF ERIC Elwood had the luxury of picking any victory of his fancy from this season's schedule, it would probably not have been this midweek international.
But on a rare break from the pressure and grind of the competitive season, Connacht delivered a rousing performance in the Sportsground and the club now has another international feather to put in its cap.
The night could hardly have gone more perfectly for the Irish team. To begin with, the evening was bone dry.
John Muldoon, released from international duty for the evening, came into the match with just under half an hour to play and gave a huge forward thrust to a tremendous effort from the pack.
At outhalf, Miah Nikora responded to this start with a flawless kicking exhibition and orchestrated a three-quarters line humming with adventure and confidence all night. Troy Nathan also had a fine time operating at fullback, utterly steady under the high ball and delivering several inch-perfect clearance kicks when Connacht were under pressure.
But it was the younger lights such as Shane Monaghan, Eoin McKeon, Cillian Willis and the outstanding Eoin Griffin – deserved recipient of the after-match bubbly – who made the crowd of 2,300 glad they had turned out on what was a cold night.
“We always said we want to bring our own guys through,” Elwood said afterwards. “It was an opportunity for the younger lads to get game time and to give them credit they were up against a powerful team tonight. I thought the character they showed and the desire to play rugby was fantastic. It is a nice headache for us to have. We rotate our squad very little and these guys stood up to the plate and showed what they can do.”
The sheer novelty and chutzpah of Griffin’s through-the-legs pass in the second half will always be associated with this game. The former Academy player actually referenced New Zealand’s Carlos Spencer when he was asked about it afterwards.
Such extravagant play is not immediately associated with Connacht rugby and while it was a spur of the moment pass by the centre it was true to the spirit of Connacht’s approach to this match. They weren’t afraid to try things. They weren’t afraid to make mistakes.
“I honestly don’t know what I was thinking but it came off and thank God,” Griffin said. “Hopefully, I put my hand forward tonight so I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks.”
Overall, it was a terrifically open game. Connacht must have been pleased to find themselves just a point adrift – 17-16 – after a highly entertaining first half.
Shane Monahan made his bulk and speed count in that period and Griffin caught the eye at both ends, winning a vital try line chase with Tautua Otto on the half hour mark and playing a central role in Connacht’s 36th-minute try, a sweeping move that hinged upon a perfect pass from Troy Nathan which Brian Touhy took through the last of the Samoan cover.
That score must have delighted Elwood for its timing as much as anything else because for the previous 20 minutes the Samoans had been schooling Connacht, keeping them penned back with judicious long kicks, exploiting any weakness in the defensive cover and displaying their customary ease and skill in handling the ball.
The visitor’s first try was pure guile, with Misioko Timoteo running a perfect line onto a delightful pass from Junior Poleuligaga, whose no-look delivery caught half the Connacht team flat footed. There were several other close calls: outhalf Lolo Lui blocked down a Connacht clearance and grounded the ball just as it brushed against the touchline.
That escape was followed by a sharp run from Mikaele Pesamino, who fly-kicked into the Connacht 22 and was edged out in the sprint for home by Touhy. At this point, there was a vague sense that the international side might just cut loose. But two second half periods in the sin-bin for Junior Poleuligaga and the lively hooker Tii Paulo disrupted their pattern of play in the second half.
Even so, a scintillating burst by Tautua Otto set up Brando Vaalu for a try to restore their lead at 22-19 after 56 minutes. Muldoon had entered the fray at this stage and bundled his way over for a try after Conor O’Loughlin’s feed on 62 minutes.
The Portumna man thought he had another four minutes later after O’Loughlin made a thrilling burst for home but his pass to Muldoon was forward. But through the closing 10 minutes, Connacht were rock steady and unlike recent Magners League experiences, there was to be no late heartache here.
CONNACHT: T Nathan; S Monahan (D Fanning, 58 mins), E Griffin, A Wynne, B Touhy; M Nikora, C Willis (C O'Loughlin, 59 mins); R Loughney (R Sweeney, 73 mins), A Flavin (D Murphy, 65 mins), B Fa'amausili (D Rogers, 52 mins); A Browne, B Upton; E McKeon (J Muldoon, 53 mins), M McComish; E Taylor (S Conneely, 73 mins).
SAMOA: M Pesamino (G Williams, 71 mins); F Otto, U Setu (B Vaalu, half-time), J Helleur, S Sinoti; L Lui, J Poleuligaga (U Mai, 55 mins); S Lemalu, T Paulo (N Leleimalefaga, 65 mins), L Mulipola; C Slade, D Leo; M Timoteo (J Tekori, 66 mins), R Muagututia; F Selesele.
Referee: J Lacey.
