European Challenge Cup First round, second leg/Connacht - 40 Narbonne - 21: European rugby continues to bring out the best in Connacht. From Northampton in 1998 to last year's semi-finals against Harlequins, Connacht have always been prepared to push the boundaries of expectation. Thus, facing elimination from the tournament, Connacht turned over a 14-point deficit from their first leg against Narbonne in France to qualify for the second round against Montpellier in December.
"They responded to the challenge," said coach Michael Bradley. "They showed a desire not to go out of the competition at this stage which would have been a disaster.
"There was a lot of pressure. They were disappointed with their performance in Narbonne and the challenge was there. They accepted it and performed superbly, helped substantially by the crowd."
Significantly the Connacht support appeared to mirror the team's ambitions, and the biggest crowd for a competitive fixture this season played their part. Bradley said "the support was worth at least nine points to us".
With a near complete first-half performance, only conceding a late try, Connacht had overturned the deficit by the 27th minute. Yet a lapse in concentration gave Narbonne the platform which they had been denied in the first half, and two quick tries brought them back into contention, ensuring a tense finale. It was perhaps not the grandstand finish this game deserved, but Connacht maintained their composure, played to their forward strength, and won the two vital penalties to see them through.
While Paul Warwick produced an outstanding display at outhalf, contributing 32 of Connacht's total, it was the forwards who struck the biggest blow to Narbonne's ambitions, marshalled by scrumhalf Chris Keane in his first full match of the season.
Their advantage in the maul and scrum, a secure lineout for the most part, and a hunger at the breakdown where they hit rucks and mauls at pace, kept Narbonne on the back foot. They set up Connacht's first try with a 35-yard maul surge before Warwick, who had already posted four penalties in 20 minutes, slipped through the midfield cover to score, putting Connacht into a five-point aggregate lead after 27 minutes.
There was better to come when Darren Yapp, beginning to find his form after a long injury lay-off, capitalised on a dropped Narbonne pass before finding left wing Conor McPhillips who dived over the line for a second converted effort. Warwick had added a drop goal before the break, and they extended their aggregate lead to 13 points with Warwick's second try.
Flanker Matt Lacey, who typified Connacht's commitment in the tackle, turned over possession in midfield before Warwick displayed all the guile and speed of an international sevens player when he scorched his opponents to race in from the 10-metre line.
Yet Narbonne, denied possession, had hinted of their ability when speedy right wing Frederic Lartigue finished off in the corner from David Douy's break. It had been a rare incursion into the home 22 just before the break, and when Connacht lost concentration for a period in the second half, the French side showed their flair on the counter-attack. Replacement number eight Laurent Baluc Rittener finished off a well-rehearsed move from a quick tap and another quickly followed when Connacht failed to control a scrum, the ball squirting out for Lartigue to profit.
It could have proved costly. From a position of domination Connacht were a point in arrears. Yet they regained their composure and won two penalties in a final 10 minutes.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 4 mins: Warwick pen 3-0; 9: Warwick pen 6-0; 14: Warwick pen 9-0; 20: Warwick pen 12-0; 27: Warwick try, con 19-0; 30: McPhillips try, Warwick con 26-0; 36: Lartigue try, Ferreres con 26-7; 43: Warwick drop goal 29-9. Half-time: 29-7; 47: Warwick try 34-7; 54: Baluc Rittener try, Ferreres con 34-13; 57: Lartigue try, Ferreres con 34-21; 68: Warwick pen 37-21; 77: Elwood penalty 40-21.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; M Mostyn, D Yapp, J Downey, C McPhlipps; P Warwick, C Keane; R Hogan, B Jackman, S Knoop; C Short, A Farley (capt); M Swift, M Lacey, J Muldoon. Replacements: D McFarland for Hogan (half-time), J Fogarty for Jackman (61 mins) T Robinson for McPhillips (64 mins), E Elwood for Warwick (70 min), C O'Loughlin for Mostyn (76 mins).
NARBONNE: L Ferreres; F Lartigue, JP Viard, D Douy, J Candelon; N Nadau, J Seron; L Martine, F Rofes, M Bigou, M Sierra, P Short; D Hunter, JM Bisaro, B Bedes. Replacements: M Siro for Seron (46 mins), L Baluc-Rittener for Bedes (50 mins), S Barthes for Viard (53 mins), P Julien for Lartigue (58 mins), R Palomera for Bigou (58 mins), M Dehaese for Short (64 mins).
Yellow cards: Narbonne: F Rofes (23 mins).
Referee: S Davey (England).
