Connacht v Saracens Champions Cup Report

A rather frustrating game culminating in us taking 0 match points despite scoring 6 tries. Another clang in the time of changing competition style and rules AGAIN. I can’t keep up with the changing rules each year personally. Nonetheless we flew out to Shannon late Friday night and checked into our AirBnB. A restful night meant we were refreshed and raring to go to cheer Sarries on as much as possible. Saturday rolled around and, post coffee and breakfast, headed straight to the Murty Rabbitts for Guinness and the SSA meet up. It was brilliant to see Sarries fans in Galway in such big numbers and a big turnout on the terraces and Clan Stand alike.  

First Half

Saracens started with real purpose. Sione Va’enuku crossed after six minutes, with Farrell converting, before Noah Caluori finished off a move involving Elliot Daly to make it 12–0. Us Sarries fans were having a cracking time and could be heard loud and clear. That was exactly the start we were after -  physical, assertive and putting Connacht under pressure and it looked like Connacht were shell shocked. But then the momentum changed dramatically.

Connacht captain Cian Prendergast scored after 18 minutes, Cathal Forde added another in the 24th minute, and Shamus Hurley-Langton crossed from a driving maul on the half-hour. As per usual we totally fell apart in the 2nd quarter of the game and handed Connacht full advantage. We were lucky not to receive a yellow card for repeated penalty offences. To make matters worse, Olanide Sodeke went off with a suspected arm/shoulder injury. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

 In barely 12 minutes, a 12–0 Saracens advantage had become a 19–12 deficit. Connacht's handling, offloading and speed of attack were beginning to expose serious weaknesses in the visitors' defensive organisation. Farrell was kicking like he couldn’t hit a barn door with a bazooka to make matters worse….

To their credit, Saracens responded. Ben Earl's powerful break from an attacking lineout meant the Connacht openside, Seamis hurley-Langton was shown a yellow card for off feet at the breakdown, and Nick Tompkins crossed shortly before the interval with the conversion added to make things look respectable. It was not the best half and felt as though we were hanging on more than anything else.

Second Half

Everything was still to play for but  the second half was extraordinary – extraordinarily good to be wearing a Connacht top, less so a Saracens one.

Prendergast grabbed his second try shortly after the restart following some lousy defence, before Rotimi Segun responded as saracens (momentarily) pulled their fingers out and got an attack moving. Ciarán Frawley then sliced through to score from an overthrown lineout, and although Va’enuku's second try brought Sarries back within two points at 33–31, Connacht had another devastating burst in them. Caolin Blade went over, followed by Frawley's second try, extending the home side's lead to 45–31. Saracens looked done and dusted.

Much to the team’s credit, we continued fighting. Connacht defence stood firm though and despite conceding another yellow card, denied us until the 78th minute when Elliot Daly scored. Farrell missed another conversion and by then the outcome was settled.

Congratulations Connacht on a deserved win and back to the drawing board for us.