By Rob Murphy at the Sportsground
First Published: http://www.knockon.ie/?p=2856
Scotland have only two professional teams, their entire professional programme channelled into two cities. Everyone of their pack that started at the weekend has worn the navy blue of Scotland and they don’t take Connacht lightly on any occasion.
They didn’t on Friday night either, this was only their second defeat in Galway in nine visits. In fact it is hard to remember a better performance from a losing side at the Sportsground in recent years.
As a Magners League win, this was massive for Connacht and it has opened a Pandora’s box for one team just above them in the standings.
Ulster lost for the fourth week in a row leaving just four points between the sides, Connacht have now accumulated more points than they managed last season in it’s entirety and they still have four rounds remaining.
Exciting times then and this hasn’t happened by accident. Despite missing a hat full of front line pivotal players Connacht once again defied logic with their work rate and mental strenght.
The six previous unbeaten home games played a roll in helping them dig this result out late on with Miah Nikora’s brilliant kick but the groundwork was done in the opening 20 minutes were Connacht simply steamrolled their opponents.
The scoreline of 11-0 at that point was a paltry return for their efforts and there was an early sense that they may suffer for not taking chances. Ian Keatley had struck them in front with a penalty before the electric out-half attacked out wide beat his man and off-loaded back inside to Brian Tuohy who scored thanks to a brilliantly angled run.
Then Keatley had the guts to attempt a long range drop goal and made some amends for seven days earlier by nailing it from 40 metres. The tide was incessant and Edinburgh were rattled. Mike McComish seemed to have scored soon after but referee Leighton Hodges missed it, other chances were not taken including a golden opportunity for Fionn Carr.
Edinburgh sensed hesitation and began to find their tempo. They like long open spells of probing rugby and orchestrated both tries from such scenario.
Tim Visser got the first winger Mark Robertson got the second which came from a turnover deep in the visitors half after Troy Nathan broke clear but the support didn’t reach him.
A 14-11 half time deficit was a cruel twist and after the break it looked like getting much worse as the Scots peppered the Connacht line. Some how the rearguard action held firm and perhaps the luck that was missing in the RDS last week swung back towards the home side.
They were earning the tight calls from the rookie referee and that tells it’s own tale. Connacht’s second try came totally against the run of play with Ben Cairns pass intercepted by Ian Keatley, who ran well over half the length of the field to score. He saved a try at one end and scored one for good measure.
The resulting two point lead was stretched to five after a brilliant attack yielded a simple penalty for the commanding out half. Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy and Sean Cronin in a ball carrying sense were vital in such attacks.
In the centre Aidan Wynne and Troy Nathan formed a superb partnership in the absence of Ta’auso and Mathews. The loss of Muldoon in the back row was somewhat negated by Johnny O’Connor’s man of the match effort and late in the contest Ronan Loughney, Andrew Browne and Nikora were introduced to good affect.
Edinburgh didn’t buckle with Keatley’s kick and responded with a fine surge of attacking play that ominously had try written all over it all the way. Ben Cairns got the touchdown and Edinburgh led by two with 15 minutes left.
The sky opened up for a downpour almost immediately but Connacht had the composure and belief to get control of possession and wait for the opportunity.
No less than 30 phases of patient and error free ruck to ruck rugby followed until the visitors brilliant defense eventually encroached allowing replacement Nikora to step up to the plate and deliver.
For the first time ever in the Magners league, the men in green have taken at least a point from five successive league games. Ulster away in Ravenhill is now the target, getting within two points of the men from the north before that game will set it up as a winner takes all Heineken Cup showdown.
Connacht: G Duffy; B Tuohy, T Nathan, A Wynne, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan; M Swift, B Upton, M McCarthy; J O’Connor, M McComish.
Replacements: E Griffin for Carr (29-37 temp), R Loughney for Wilkinson (52), A Browne for McComish (60), M Nikora for Keatley (62).
Edinburgh: J Thompson; M Robertson, B Cairns, J Houston, T Visser; P Godman, M Blair (capt); A Jacobsen, A Kelly, G Cross, S MacLeod, J Hamilton, A MacDonald, R Rennie, R Grant.
Replacements: R Ford for Kelly (h-t), S Turnbull for Hamilton (55), K Traynor for Jacobsen, S Newlands for MacDonald, G Laidlaw for M Blair and S Webster for Cairns (all 60 mins).
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU).
