Connacht recovered some pride but not enough to cause an upset over an international-packed Montferrand side yesterday. Connacht coach, Steph Nel, had promised a 100 per cent improvement after his side's drubbing in Neath last week.
They delivered, particularly in the first half, but Montferrand's superior class surfaced in the second half as they ran in four tries to finish comfortable winners in the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin.
With 14 internationals in the Montferrand squad, eight of whom started, a victory for Connacht never looked possible. Yet, in the first half, they traded more than favourably and could have been ahead but for a Montferrand try the Italian referee allowed despite a clear knock-on moments before.
Nel had taken a risk in making six changes to the side that was beaten in Wales and it looked to have worked as Connacht held the French side to a 27-21 half-time lead. The appetite and work ethic that had become associated with Connacht since Nel took over this season returned and, more importantly, they secured sufficient first phase possession, in the main through the returning Mark McConnell in the lineout, while their superior scrum had Montferrand in trouble on several occasions.
Connacht's bright opening came unstuck when out-half, Eric Elwood, opted for a long pass in the hope of capitalising on a clear overlap. Unfortunately, left-wing, French international David Bory, intercepted, and from the resultant foray fellow international, flanker Alexandre Audebert scored after Montferrand's first attack in their opponents' 22.
However, Connacht's graft paid off when Elwood converted two penalties although the French side kept their noses in front through the boot of out-half Eric Nicol. Connacht took the lead after 17 minutes with a try from Rowan Frost which Elwood converted. Nicol and Elwood traded penalties before Montferrand's right-wing, Aurelien Rougerie, took advantage of the referee's oversight to score his side's second try.
Connacht survived a testing time when Montferrand laid siege to their line after McConnell was sin-binned. Yet, Connacht's superior scrum and commitment to the tackle held the French at bay and, when Darren Yapp intercepted a poor Montferrand pass it seemed Connacht's hard work was rewarded. The left wing raced from his own 22 to score under the posts.
However, before the break Montferrand sneaked in front when the power of their international back row trio carved open the space for centre Jerome Bory to score.
The second half told a different story as Montferrand's class stretched Connacht. In the end, Montferrand ran in another four tries from French internationals Audebert and David Bory, Czech star Jan Machacek and USA international Kevin Dalzell.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4 mins: try Audebert, con Nicol 7-0. 10: pen Elwood 7-3. 12: Elwood 7-6. 15: pen Nicol 10-6. 17: try
Frost, con Elwood 10-13. 19: pen Nicol 13-13. 22: Pen Elwood 13-16. 26: try Rougerie, con Nicol 20-16. 36: try Yapp 20-21. 39: try J Bory, con Nicol 27-21. 58: pen Merceron 30-21. 60: try Audebert, con Merceron 37-21. 68: try D Bory, con Merceron 44-21. 74: try Machacek, con Merceron 51-21. 83: try Dalzell, con Merceron 58-21.
MONTFERRAND: N Nadau; A Rougerie, J Ngauamo, J Bory, D Bory; E Nicol, A Troncon (capt); A Tolofua, M Caputo, A Galasso, D Barrier, E Lecomte, A Audebert, O Magne, J Machacek. Replacements: J Thiom for Barrier (56 mins); G Merceron for Nicol (56); B Reidy for Tolofua (61); P Burnell for Galasso (61); S Viars for Nadau (64); C Dongieu for Lecomte (71); Dalzell for Troncon (74).
CONNACHT: R Lee; P Duignan, S Stephens, T Allnutt, D Yapp; E Elwood, J Screene; J McVeigh, M Cahill, R Frost, M McConnell (capt), I Dillon, J O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: M Smyth for Yapp (49 mins); D Browne for McConnell (64); G Shoeman for O'Connor (76).
Referee: R Faccioli (Italy).
