CONNACHT WERE ON the receiving end of another hugely disappointing result last weekend as they lost 21-18 away to Brive in the Challenge Cup.
Despite the last-gasp loss, there were some moments of quality from Pat Lam’s side, with this spectacular double chip from in-form wing Matt Healy standing out in particular.
The 26-year-old has been making a habit of kicking cleverly out from Connacht’s half of the pitch and retrieving the ball this season, but this flash of magic was perhaps the most impressive yet.
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The first chip is excellent as Healy gathers on the bounce, but then to swiftly follow it up with an instinctive second chip – one that proved even more accurate – shows the former Lansdowne man’s high skill level.
Connacht drew a penalty from the scrambling Brive defence a couple of phases later, before captain John Muldoon scored with a crafty quick-tap of that penalty. Unfortunately the conversion attempt was wide from Jack Carty and Brive secured a penalty of their own to earn the win.
Defensively, 22-year-old lock Ultan Dillane provided one of the highlights of the game with the huge hit below.
Brive fullback Romain Sola had burst through Connacht’s defensive line and was heading for the tryline before Dillane intervened with a smashing tackle.
Connacht welcome Russian outfit Enisei-STM to the Sportsground on Saturday afternoon [KO 3pm] for their final Challenge Cup pool game, hopeful of securing a quarter-final place.
Pat Lam’s men must hope pool leaders Brive slip up in Newcastle this weekend and that they beat Enisei. A few more big plays from the likes of Healy and Dillane would go some way towards achieving that goal.
Matt Healy pulled off a spectacular double chip for Connacht in Brive
CONNACHT WERE ON the receiving end of another hugely disappointing result last weekend as they lost 21-18 away to Brive in the Challenge Cup.
Despite the last-gasp loss, there were some moments of quality from Pat Lam’s side, with this spectacular double chip from in-form wing Matt Healy standing out in particular.
The 26-year-old has been making a habit of kicking cleverly out from Connacht’s half of the pitch and retrieving the ball this season, but this flash of magic was perhaps the most impressive yet.
The first chip is excellent as Healy gathers on the bounce, but then to swiftly follow it up with an instinctive second chip – one that proved even more accurate – shows the former Lansdowne man’s high skill level.
Connacht drew a penalty from the scrambling Brive defence a couple of phases later, before captain John Muldoon scored with a crafty quick-tap of that penalty. Unfortunately the conversion attempt was wide from Jack Carty and Brive secured a penalty of their own to earn the win.
Defensively, 22-year-old lock Ultan Dillane provided one of the highlights of the game with the huge hit below.
Brive fullback Romain Sola had burst through Connacht’s defensive line and was heading for the tryline before Dillane intervened with a smashing tackle.
Connacht welcome Russian outfit Enisei-STM to the Sportsground on Saturday afternoon [KO 3pm] for their final Challenge Cup pool game, hopeful of securing a quarter-final place.
Pat Lam’s men must hope pool leaders Brive slip up in Newcastle this weekend and that they beat Enisei. A few more big plays from the likes of Healy and Dillane would go some way towards achieving that goal.
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Connacht matt healy skills brah Brive Ultan Dillane