Difficult Task Facing Connacht

Connacht face a difficult task next weekend in the second leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup match following a 42-27 defeat by Narbonne in Parc des Sports on Saturday evening. They must try and make up the 15 point deficit against the French side after they conceded a late try.

The task ahead according to coach Steph Nel is, “a massive one, but it’s do-able, I believe. “

Connacht kicked a last long-range penalty to touch in the hopes of mauling to the line and reducing the deficit to a manageable one point when perhaps a shot at goal might have been a better option. They then lost the line-out and Narbonne finished at the other end with their fifth try. Another killer blow was the concession of two soft tries in five minutes just before the break. On two occasions they had reduced the home side’s lead to eight points and the concession of the late try was particularly disappointing.

Narbonne: P Bazani; F Lartigue, D Douy, J Gillingham, G Tutard; J Gendre, L Balue, A Martinez, M Ledesma, S Guy, C Gaston, D Hunter, G Belzons, A Hill, L Baluc Rittener. Replacements: S Hunt for Gillingham (41 mins), C Rosalen for Lartique (50 mins), G Longo for C Gaston (52 mins), X Guilllemet for Hill (54 mins), M Siro for Guy 74 mins).

Connacht: M McHugh; G Duffy, D Yapp, S Moore, W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; R McCormack, J Flannery, P Bracken , R Frost, D Browne, M Swift, J O’Sullivan, E Peters.

Replacements: C Rigney for Swift (60 mins), T Robinson for Duffy, J O’Connor for Peters (62 mins), F Boiroux for Bracken (81 mins).

Referee: G Ashton-Jones (England).