Connacht underline remarkable rise by handing Munster a lesson

Connacht 35 Munster 14

When the heat came on, there was simply no ignoring form and home advantage. Roared on by all four sides of the ground on a perfect evening for rugby, Connacht were simply more comfortable and confident in their running game than Munster. Right now they are just a better team too.

True, there are all sorts of key moments and momentum shifts. Undoubtedly, the sin-binning of James Cronin in the 32nd minute was pivotal, for at the time Munster deservedly led 14-6 after finding their attacking rhythm more smoothly than their hosts.

The first try, following a lovely half-break and one-handed offload by Johnny Holland, and some deft link play by Jack O'Donoghue, who impressed before being forced off, led to a smart finish by Simon Zebo.

Their second was punishment for Connacht getting their exit strategy wrong as Munster made the most of a well-controlled lineout maul.

Even after Connacht had taken a 25-14 lead by the end of the third quarter, had Francis Saili not knocked on in the act of flamboyantly diving over under the posts, Munster would have made it a four-point game.

But throughout, Connacht demonstrated greater security in their own handling skills and boasted better options off the ball, either as receivers or to clear out.

In truth, they were more accurate and inventive a week previously, but they were able to ride out Munster's early storm, with their superior ball retention enabling Robbie Henshaw, Niyi Adeolokun, Matt Healy and, especially Bundee Aki, to bring their game-breaking abilities to bear.

Sensational

Aki – their big-hitting, side-stepping, socks-rolled- down go-to man with that low centre of gravity – was simply sensational. The official stats of 20 carries for 133 metres and three clean line breaks seemed to sell his influence short.

“He’s a Connacht man,” said Lam. “You can truly say that boy is a Connacht man. He’s embraced this whole area, he’s embraced the province. Pacific Islanders, everything is around family and extended family, and it doesn’t need to be blood.

“It needs to be the people you care about and Bundee always talks about his brothers here. You see that side, but I see him pushing guys really hard. He gets in their faces at training, he’s physical, he wants high standards.

“He’s a big leader off the field. He can enjoy himself a lot too socially, but certainly he’s got a lot of respect for these guys. He always pumps his chest because he loves this place.”

Either side of the influential Tom McCartney, props Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham again offered evidence of their development, while the athleticism of Ultan Dillane and Aly Muldowney again shone through, as did the carrying and work-rate of the backrow.

Indeed, if Aki was the star turn, there were no bad ones, and Adeolokun has significantly sharpened his cutting edge. His raw talent, pace and finishing ability were always there, but to this has been added vastly improved handling skills and game awareness.

Here was another brace of tries, the first to finish off Aki’s side-stepping, the second when opportunistically availing of a fortuitous bounce from Henshaw’s wicked little grubber.

For sure, as Lam admitted, at times Connacht got their exit strategies wrong again. No doubt those who believe in more orthodox exit strategies will highlight as a case in point Aki’s knock-on from Shane O’Leary’s high pass which led to Munster’s second try.

However, it was Aki’s stunning 50-metre break out from their trademark ball-in-hand exit after their first try by Adeolokun which led to their ensuing penalty try, thus completing a double whammy for a 20-14 half-time lead.

Connacht are not purveyors of “crazy running”, as Lam has heard and read. “If you ask me to jump in a plane and fly it down, that’s pressure,” he said.

“But for a pilot, there’s no pressure whatsoever. What we do is what we train and people challenge me and say ‘jeez, isn’t it pressure you put on yourselves?’ Only if we don’t train it.”

Connacht’s superior mental strength and discipline, witness the 15-8 penalty count and two yellow cards Munster suffered, emanated from this belief in what they have done on the training ground and in previous matches, and what Lam described as their virtual immunity from their surrounds.

“Forget the score, forget the crowd, just say ‘is this moment in time where we have the ball, is this on? Yes, it is, so go and execute.’ If we don’t, then we’ll need to just get better at it.”

Motto

Connacht’s motto has been to keep on learning, with last week’s 33-32 defeat in Grenoble providing a salutary lesson in failing to press home winning positions.

“We should have put our foot down. We eased off mentally, some skills weren’t right and we identified that,” said Lam.

“We talked about the mental application to not switch off, to put the foot on the throat there. Even at the end, with five minutes to go the game was won. We turned the ball over, we weren’t going to give up and you could see the body language on the guys.

“This team is really growing and maturing as individuals and as a group.”