Worcester 52
Connacht 39
THEY SAY PRE-SEASON games tend to be forgettable. Well, the 1,658 people who attended this one will argue otherwise.
It was a thriller, Worcester winning deservedly but not before Connacht staged an almighty late charge, scoring three tries in the closing stages to make the scoreboard respectable.
At one stage, with 11 minutes left on the clock, Worcester led by 32 points. Connacht responded by getting the final 19 points of the game, Tiernan O’Halloran, Oisin Dowling and Jonny Murphy with the tries, Conor Fitzgerald with two out of three conversion attempts.
Earlier, it was clear that Worcester were that bit sharper. They took the lead when Melani Nanai took a clever line to score the game’s opening try on eight minutes.
Connacht responded with a score from Niall Murray, who crashed over after good work from O’Halloran, Shane Delahunt and Tom Farrell.
Worcester, however, were playing well. Ethan Waller finished off a good team move to restore their lead and they got to the break with a 17-10 lead.
Soon they’d increase it.
First Sam Lewis scored, then Alex Hearle’s pace hurt Connacht. By the time Sione Vailunu crossed on 62 minutes, it was 38-20 – Jack Carty’s penalty and a converted Matt Healy try keeping Connacht going.
But two tries in three minutes – Jamie Shillcock setting up Tom Howe, three minutes before Howe returned the favour to create a score for Shillcock, left Connacht with the possibility of a humiliating defeat.
Instead they rallied. Those closing three tries in the final 10 minutes told a story of resilience and spirit.
He’s not as disappointed as some on relation to how far off they are? They are miles off. No offence to Munster but they are an average,though very gutsy and committed side,and they have hammers Leinster twice in a row now. I do agree that they haven’t had any continuity with combinations,especially from 9-13,and hopefully when the likes of OBrien, Healy, Moore, Teo, McFadden etc come back then there will be a big improvement.
I must take the opportunity to praise Matt O’Connor for the huge improvement in Guinness Pro12 teams. Ever since he arrived at Leinster, every other team has greatly improved. Teams, that two years ago were almost brushed aside by Leinster, have now reached the heights that Leinster once inhabited alone.
Treviso have improved, Munster have improved, Edinburgh have improved, Scarlets have improved, Dragons have improved, Zebra have improved, Connacht (brilliant tonight, by the way) have improved..
In fact, they have all improved so much that Leinster has great difficulty taking on any of them.
By extension, Wasps and Harlequins have shown just how brilliant they are too due to you Matt.
I can hardly wait to see how much Castres get better when they arrive at the RDS soon. They will build statues in your image all over the town.
Matt, you have done European rugby a great service. They have all reached and surpassed Leinster this season thanks to your input at Leinster and everywhere else.
Thank you Matt and Happy New year!.
(and also to Mr Caputo, the news paper seller. Your influence on all other teams has been exceptional)