Connacht's European Shield opponents Montferrand had every reason to emerge pleased with themselves from a water-logged Ericsson Park on Saturday. The decision to play this match at the home of Buccaneers failed to attract the expected support and it was Connacht who looked the more uncomfortable in the driving rain and wind.
That said, Connacht could have, and should have, capitalised on home advantage. But some tactically naive decisions in the second half prevented them making a breakthrough against a highly competent and organised side packed with 13 internationals of seven different nationalities.
For Connacht it spelt the end of any chance of quarter-final qualification, but the game demonstrated just how far the team has come since the start of the season.
Disappointed but positive was coach Steph Nel's assessment "Three months ago we could not take a ball in the line-out. Yesterday we took seven of theirs. The progress of this team particularly in the forwards has been incredible. We may not have got the results that we want so much but it will eventually come," he said.
The strength of Connacht's game lay in the defensive prowess, restricting a team that last week ran in eight tries, to just four penalties. Ian Dillon, Junior Charlie and Johnny O'Connor worked tirelessly in restricting the more illustrious back-row opponents, including French international Olivier Magne, who last week had caused so much damage.
This time it was the excellence of Gerald Merceron that laid the foundation for the French win. The international outhalf put Connacht under constant pressure, capitalising on the wind in the first half, in which he was on target with three penalties. Connacht needed to utilise any scoring chance that came their way and when they did make their first foray into their opponents' half, Eric Elwood converted a penalty.
Unfortunately, Connacht spurned several penalty kicks in the second half in search of a try. These decisions, coupled with their failure to make the most of the wind, simply soaked up time and precious territorial advantage.
In contrast, Montferrand who only looked like crossing the line once, took their chance after 53 minutes to extend the lead to 12-3.
Scoring sequence: 5 mins: Merceron pen, 0-3; 15 mins: Elwood pen, 3-3; 20 mins: Merceron pen, 3-6; 29 mins: Merceron pen, 3-9; 53 mins: Merceron pen, 3-12.
CONNACHT: R Lee; P Duignan, S Stephens, T Allnutt, D Yapp; E Elwood, J Ferris; J Screene, J McVeigh, M Cahill, R Frost, D Browne, I Dillon, J Charlie, J O'Connor. Replacements: W Munn for Yapp (half-time), E McFarland for Screen (64 mins), T Clery for McVeigh (64 mins).
MONTFERRAND: N Nadau; A Rougerie, J Ngauamo, T Marsh, D Bory; G Merceron, A Troncon; A Tolofua, M Caputo, A Galasso, E Lecomte, J Thion, A Audebert, J Machacek, O Magne. Replacements: E Nicol for Naguamo (39 mins). E Reidy for Tolofua (48 mins), P Burnell for Caputo (48 mins), S Viars for Rougerie (54 mins), C Dongieu for Lecomte, T Gabin for Machacek (77 mins).
Referee: A Ireland (Scotland).
