Toulouse 24 Connacht 3:FOR CONNACHT it was the performance they needed; for Toulouse it was the result. Both sides left Stade Ernest Wallon satisfied. But it was the 600 travelling Irish fans who prompted a rare sporting gesture at the intimidating French venue.
“Never before in this stadium,” remarked a French journalist when the Toulouse players stopped in front of the visiting Irish support and saluted them.
Moments earlier, Michael Swift had led the Connacht players to the same spot, acknowledging the fans’ continued support for a team suffering a poor run of results.
From Germany, Spain, England and Ireland, this group had descended on Toulouse – including seven medical students who resorted to a 5km dash along a motorway to make it to the game. And for periods of this round five fixture they helped silence the 18,000 French supporters who were expecting a Saturday evening romp.
It was a display coach Eric Elwood had demanded and was justifiably proud.
“We did a lot of good stuff of which we can be proud. I told the players afterwards I was proud of them and I thought the people who came here were proud of them. That is what we wanted because we knew we were up against it.”
While Connacht were forced to work their socks off, the giants of European rugby did what they needed to do, bagging the four tries to stretch their lead in pool 6 to 18 points, two ahead of Harlequins.
Yet Connacht, under severe pressure in the scrum throughout, had limited the French champions to a 10-3 half-time lead. And had Connacht converted their chances, the end result could have been closer.
Outhalf Niall O’Connor’s opening penalty kick hit the upright, before an attacking overlap was also passed up when centre David McSharry opted for an inside line with fullback Gavin Duffy clear outside him.
“At half-time we knew, and they knew, they were in a ball game,” said Elwood. “If David had given the pass with a two-on-one and Niall had kicked, which we could have or should have, then maybe the scoreline could have been better,” he said.
“Yes, it was great performance. Yes, we went the full 80 against the best team in Europe, and yes I am proud of the performance, but I am not happy we lost because we felt, rightly or wrongly, that we had an opportunity tonight particularly going in at half-time.”
Defensively, Connacht had to be on top of their game and in that area they were not found wanting – epitomised by a thumping Ray Ofisa effort minutes before fullback and man-of-the-match Maxime Medard crossed for the home side’s second try after collecting a pin-point cross field kick from All Black Luke McAlister.
Earlier, Medard had similarly chipped through for Timoci Matanavou’s opening try in the 20th minute. However, Connacht had held their own in most areas, but the scrum.
Tiernan O’Halloran and Fetu Vainikolo were lively and penetrating on the wings. Vainikolo was instrumental in setting up Connacht’s first chance of the half from turnover ball inside the Connacht 22, and his run, chip and chase gave Connacht territorial position from which Connacht should have scored.
However, it was the Toulouse scrum that dictated this result. Their front five simply had too much power and class for Connacht and five penalties for the home side in the first half ensured Connacht were on the back foot throughout.
The continuing pressure told early in the second half when number eight Louis Picamoles broke from the base five metres out to grab Toulouse’s third try after 46 minutes.
Toulouse, always with the talent to pounce, were able to up the pace and tempo on every visit to the Connacht 22. Were it not for Connacht’s immense defensive effort the fourth try would have been wrapped up considerably earlier.
Although Connacht continued to ask questions of their opponents, it was only a matter of time. Luke Burgess burst through from a quick tap to set up left winger Matanavou for the bonus point try.
It capped a clinical Toulouse performance and an occasion in which Connacht once again lifted themselves.
“It was a big occasion for everyone,” said Elwood. For none more than replacements, former Creggs player Denis Buckley, Dave Moore, playing in his first competitive match of the season, and Galwegian Eoin McKeon.
“I wanted to give everyone a chance to feel what it’s like to play this weekend. We have some excellent youngsters and for some it could be the biggest stage of their lives.
“The key for us now is to do it next week. Away from home we have been excellent. We just want to finish our Heineken Cup as best we can at home and go into the break with a win.”
No surprises then that Toulouse won, but the fears of a whitewash were doused by a fiery Connacht, who fought to the finish.
TOULOUSE: M Medard; V Clerc, Y David, F Fritz, T Matanavou; L McAlister, L Burgess; G Steenkamp, W Servat, C Johnston, Y Maestri, P Albacete, J Bouilhou, T Dusautoir (cpt), L Picamoles. Replacements: L Beauxis for Fritz (ht), C Poitrenaud for David, G Lamboley for Maestri (both 60 mins), D Human for Steenkamp (64 mins), C Tolafua for Servat (66 mins), S Sowerby for Bouilhou (68 mins), J Doussain for Burgess (69 mins).
CONNACHT:G Duffy(capt); F Vainikolo, K Tonetti, D McSharry, T O'Halloran; N O'Connor, P O'Donoghue; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, D Rogers, M Swft, M McCarthy, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, G Naoupu. Replacements: S Maguire for Rogers (47), E Reynecke for Flavin, H Fa'afili for McSharry (both 61 mins), D Moore for O'Donohoe, M Nikora for O'Connor (both 67 mins), M Kearney for Muldoon (69 mins), E McKeon for Naoupu (74 mins), D Buckley for Wilkinson (75 mins).
Referee: W Barnes (England).
