Yesterday proved a hat-trick for Connacht as they overcame Rovigo in Italy. It was their third European Shield victory; their third game in the spate of eight days; and perhaps more significantly it was a victory carved by the narrowest of margins.
While success is obviously important, many feel this team is pushing its luck in under-performing.
"We are riding our luck a little too far. Admittedly it was a tough week with three games in eight days but maybe it was one too many won in this fashion," says Connacht captain Mervyn Murphy.
"If we do not start performing for a full 80 minutes then we could have gone one game too far particularly with Narbonne visiting next week."
Connacht's formula for putting themselves under unnecessary pressure is not the most enjoyable to endure. Once again they took a long time to settle and although hit by some strange refereeing decisions by Frenchman, Jean Claude Gastou, they played like a team that was not overly enthusiastic. In what became a high penalty count against Connacht, Rovigo out-half Andre Scanavacca took the penalty points on offer after three minutes before converting Vittoria Golfetti try after the forwards had driven over the line. Ironically, working off set pieces is one of Connacht's strengths; yet they had no answer for the Italians who created a second try in the same fashion - this time lock Luke Gross claimed the touchdown. The conversion and another penalty from Scanavacca put Connacht behind by 20 points to six - the visitors points coming from two Simon Allnutt penalties in the 12th and 18th minutes.
However, in what is becoming a habit when Connacht put their minds to it, they were rewarded. Late in the half the forwards started to play to their own gameplan taking the ball up through the centre with some close-in driving. When it was spun wide Mervyn Murphy supplied the winning pass for an Allnutt touchdown in the right corner. The out-half, who scored all of Connacht's points, added a third penalty just before halftime to narrow the gap to 2014.
If those points before the break came at a crucial period then the second try soon after the interval put Connacht into the lead for the first time; and you sensed they were never going to relinquish it. This time the back-line move was a little laboured but rightwing Alan Reddan did well to break three tackles before Allnutt got the touchdown - 21-20. That was always going to be enough. Two missed Rovigo penalties a couple of clearances out on the full and some panic passing, and the Italians looked a little ragged under the increasing Connacht pressure. The home side tried to claim a third try from another forward surge but it was never going anywhere.
Although Connacht created more scoring opportunities, they never put the game away comfortably. However, this was a victory which Connacht coach Glenn Ross said "showed the character of a side that has had a tough week. To come away from Rovigo with a victory was enough."
Scoring sequence: 3 mins: Scanavacca penalty, 3-0; 6: Golsetti try, Scanavacca conversion, 10-0; 12: Allnut penalty, 10-3; 18: Allnut penalty, 10-6; 27: Gross try, Scanavacca conversion, 17-6; 33: Scanavacca penalty, 20-6; 34: Allnut try and conversion, 20-14; 49: Allnut try and conversion, 20-21.
CONNACHT: W Ruane; A Reddan, P Duignan, M Murphy, N Carolan; S Allnutt, C McGuinness; J Screene, E Mulcahy, M Cahill, G Heaslip, J Duffy, J Charlie, S McEntee, E Gavin. Replacements: J McVeigh for Mulcahy, 66 mins; J Maher for Screene, 71 mins.
ROVIGO: M Boldrin; M Dolcetto, S Bordon, J Rolleston, A Bettarello; A Scanavacca, V Sepaccamonte; F Medea, M de Stefani, V Golsetti, M Davis, L Gross, M Barion, D Barion, G Zorzi. Replacements: E Brancalion for Golsetti, 66 mins; D Dardani for Bordon, 66 mins; M Manco for Gross, 72 mins.
The English Allied Dunbar Premiership division two leaders Bristol have rewarded five forwards with new two-year contracts. The players are England under-21 international Jim Brownrigg, hooker Jonathan Evans, flanker Mark Bennett, lock Chad Eagle and number eight Christian Evans.
