La Rochelle 20
Connacht 30
DESPITE TRAILING BY nine points at the interval, Connacht secured a place in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a bonus-point victory over La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel Deflandre.
After an indisciplined first-half, Pat Lam’s side had their backs against the wall as they faced the prospect of an early exit from Europe but the visitors produced an outstanding comeback to score three tries, unanswered, in the second forty.
It means the Westerners are guaranteed to finish as one of the best three runners-up as they finish behind Exeter Chiefs in Pool 2.
Kieran Marmion had got the visitors off to the perfect start as he raced over after just five minutes but Nathan White’s sin-binning half-way through the first period handed the momentum back to the hosts.
After a period of sustained pressure from La Rochelle, referee Neil Paterson then awarded the French side a penalty try before they extended their advantage through Albain Meron two minutes before half-time.
But, Connacht were a different side after the restart.
Right from the off, they put La Rochelle on the back foot and Eoin McKeown’s try broke the back of the wall of yellow shirts and hand Connacht the impetus.
That said, La Rochelle had phases of territory of their own as they probed for a third score that would have, almost certainly, finished Connacht off. However, the Irish province held firm, with an element of desperation in defence, before mounting a clinical late onslaught.
Firstly, with just five minutes left on the clock, substitute Niyi Adeolokun found a hole in the La Rochelle defence to touch down under the posts and then, incredibly, two minutes later, Matt Healy went over in the corner to complete the job.
Meanwhile, Exeter ran riot, beating Bayonne 45-3 at Sandy Park.
La Rochelle scorers:Tries: Penalty try, Albain MeronConversions: Jean-Pascal Barraque (2)Penalties: Jean-Pascal Barraque (2)Connacht scorers:Tries: Kieran Marmion, Eoin McKeown, Niyi Adeolokun, Matt Healy
Conversions:
Penalties: Jack Carty (2)
La Rochelle: Alofa Alofa; Arthur Cestaro, Charles Bouldoire, Elliot Roudil, Damien Cler; Jean-Pascal Barraque, Julien Berger; Vincent Pelo, Hikairo Forbes, Benoit Bourrust; Leo Cedaro, Mathieu Tanguy; Benoit Guyot, Nicolas Djebaili (capt), Albain Meron
Replacements: Hadrien Vaslin, Lekso Kaulashvili, Uini Atonio, Zeno Kieft, Loann Goujon, Julien Audy, Fabien Fortassin, Albert Vulivuli
Connacht: Mils Muliaina; Darragh Leader, Danie Poolman, Conor Finn, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Ronan Louhgney, Tom McCartney, Nathan White; Quinn Roux, Andrew Browne, Eoin McKeon, Willie Faloon, George Naoupu
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, Finlay Bealham, Danny Qualter, John Muldoon, Caolin Blade, Miah Nikora, Niyi Adeolokun
Referee: Neil Paterson.
It wasn’t tongue in cheek though. Crook has has several discussions on his shows about this. Fair play to Ferguson for slapping that down the way he did
It was a question and he answered it perfectly. My god… the drama.
@IrishOwl: the same question he has answered a few times already.with crook been the “chief football correspondent” thought he would know the answer coming better than most.he was 100% been smart and trying make light of it now. Gobsh**t for talksh**t.
@Paully kells: think your a bitter man paulie. always angry. maybe open a beer and relax a bit.
We have had our fair share of English born players playing for Ireland, not to mention the hatred towards two current English internationals who were born and grew up in England. We had a CEO that wanted to be the 33rd team in a world cup. Don’t think we’re in any position to criticize these questions.
@Louise Murphy: he’s not bitter at all Lou, I enjoy Paullys comments here and on this occasion he is right. Mute him if it annoys you.
@Louise Murphy: not atal..but I’d say the young lad is getting rather sick of the same question over and over..he’s made it clear…take care
Why do the Sky sports commentators pronounce the foreign player’s names properly eg Henry or Pires , bit they don’t pay the irish player’s the same respect eg Moran, Kernaghan, Hourihane (though they do pronounce this name properly now since he took them up on it live on television)?
@Louis Jacob: Probably for the same reason Hollywood can’t do the Irish accent.
@Louis Jacob: bit they dont?
The Brits have such a polite way of being ignorant.
I suspect a lot of German fans would like to see Harry Kane line out for them. But the English wouldn’t take it too well if he was constantly pestered about it. Tin ear stuff really..
Crook-cheif football correspondent for talk sh**t he hasn’t much between the ears,and he knows damn well he was been disrespectful, well done to Evan with he’s reply put him into place.
The audacity of that question !!
Ignorant on so many levels. Ferguson is ineligible for England now. He doesn’t feel English at all. He is Irish and proud, born and bred here with an Irish father. Yes his mother is English but very disrespectful to be still asking him now.
Talk Sport is trash!
And Rice can’t remember singing come out you black and tans now
I’m all mixed up regarding the rules, does anyone actually know what they are?
You don’t hear them asking any of the English players why they are committed to England……..
A lit bit of English mischief to get some harmless revenge for the abuse Rice and Grealish got when they switched over.
@John Pembroke: deserved all the abuse they got, pair of shitehawks