European Challenge Cup/ Montpellier 35 Connacht 22:Connacht's worst fears were realised last evening as dreams of reaching the European Challenge Cup knockout phase for a fifth season on the trot were dashed.
In their worst result against Montpellier in three successive years, Connacht simply could not match the power of the home outfit. And particularly painful was that Montpellier played for most of this match with 14 men.
"A poor performance," said coach Michael Bradley. "We were lacklustre and our accuracy was poor. Very disappointing because we know we can play better."
Despite a bonus-winning performance in the Sportsground last week, Connacht had been warned that this was a stronger Montpellier outfit than in previous years, and so it proved.
Although Connacht managed four tries, Montpellier, with the backing of their noisy home support, raced into a 32-12 lead as the Irish conceded penalty after penalty. And despite Montpellier having lost their outhalf Francois Trinh-Duc to a red card in the seventh minute for a dangerous tackle on scrumhalf Conor O'Loughlin, they never allowed Connacht get ahead, going in at the break with a 16-12 lead.
Montpellier understandably reverted to type and used their pack to build their advantage, and they certainly were not lacking behind the scrum. But it was the overwhelming imbalance in the penalty count against Connacht, 15-3, that ultimately cost them. It gave Montpellier either territory from which to launch attacks or opportunities for Regis Lespinas to pot the simple points.
The killer blow came eight minutes after the break when their lively scrumhalf Julien Tomas took a quick tap penalty some 15 metres out.
With Connacht still on the retreat and their defence disorganised, Tomas grabbed the try that gave the home outfit a 23-12 lead and boosted their growing confidence.
Despite two tries apiece in the first half, the one-sided penalty count handed the advantage to the French.
After Trinh-Duc was sidelined on seven minutes, Montpellier utilised the strength of their forwards, despite replacing flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo with centre Harley Crane.
Having drawn first blood with a 16th-minute penalty after Matt Lacey was penalised for offside, Montpellier gained valuable territory and possession from which they launched several forward drives and as Connacht coughed up the penalties, lock Mamuka Gorgodze claimed two tries.
Conor O'Loughlin's return to the fray was marked by a superb individual try in between. Breaking from the back of a scrum just inside the 10-metre line, he raced all the way to touch down in the right corner.
And when McHugh followed suit, exploiting the gap from halfway to touch down and convert, Connacht must have been optimistic about their chances.
But they also found themselves a man short when Stephen Knoop was sinbinned.
Lespinas notched the easy points before the break, and after Tomas's 48th-minute try, a succession of penalties ensured they had control of the game.
Lespinas kicked three more to build up a comfortable lead, from which Connacht could never recover. Danny Riordan did grab two tries but it was never going to be enough.
Traditionally Europe has been the route by which Connacht have gained confidence and recognition. Now they face two meaningless January matches against Bath and Harlequins. In between they have two crucial interprovincial ties in what for them is the increasingly important Magners Celtic League.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 16 mins: Lespinas pen 3-0; 22: Gorgodze try 8-0; 25: O'Loughlin try 8-5; 34: Gorgodze try, Lespinas con 13-5; 39: McHugh try and con 13-12; 40(+5):Lespinas pen 16-12 (half-time 16-12); 48: Tomas try, Lespinas con 23-12; 51: Lespinas pen 26-12; 56: Lespinas pen 29-12; 62: Lespinas pen 32-12; 68: Riordan try 32-17; 71: Lespinas pen 35-17; 80: Riordan try 35-22.
MONTPELLIER: O Sarramea; A Koko, R Lespinas, A Stoica, J Boussuge; F Trinh-Duc, J Tomas; P Toleafoa, J Caudello, N Descamps; Goncalo Uva, M Gorgodze; M Macurdy, F Ouedraogo, J Russell. Replacements: H Crane for Ouedraogo (14 mins), S Petit for Toleafoa, C Baiocco for Decamps (both half-time), N Grelon for Caudello, C Mathieu for Gorgodze (both 53 mins), L Picamoles for Russell, S Mercier for Boussuge (both 63 mins), Russell for Macurdy (76 mins). Sent off: F Trinh-Duc (7 mins).
CONNACHT: D Riordan; T Robinson, P Warwick, G Williams, K Matthews; M McHugh, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, J Fogarty, S Knoop; R Strudwick, A Farley; M Swift, M Lacey, J Muldoon. Replacements: C Keane for O'Loughlin (7-15 mins, 44 mins), Gannon for Strudwick, C Rigney for Swift, D Yapp for McHugh (all 54 mins), C McPhillips for Robinson (57 mins). Sinbinned: S Knoop (40+5m).
Referee: R Debney(England).
