Thomas Laranjeira kicked a last-minute penalty to steer Brive to a 21-18 triumph over Connacht after captain John Muldoon looked to have rescued a late draw for the visitors.
John Muldoon’s unconverted try – his second of the game – drew Connacht level in the dying minutes, but a scrum infringement allowed centre Thomas Laranjeira to fire over his seventh successful penalty of the night as Brive leapfrogged the westerners at the top of Pool 1.
The result leaves Pat Lam’s men under considerable pressure to make the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals. A win at home to Enisei-STM next Saturday afternoon, preferably with a bonus point, is a must, but much will depend on the outcome of the Newcastle Falcons v Brive clash which takes place at the same time.
The Falcons are third in the pool table on 11 points, Connacht are now second with 14 and Brive are a single point clear at the summit. The other pools are currently topped by the Newport Gwent Dragons (20 points), Harlequins (20), Gloucester (21) and Grenoble (18).
The manner of the defeat was especially deflating for Muldoon and his team-mates as it comes just six days on from a similarly heartbreaking loss to the Scarlets in the GUINNESS PRO12 – Steven Shingler’s late penalty was the difference in Llanelli last Sunday.
Giving his reaction afterwards at Stade Amédée-Domenech, Muldoon said: “We are so disappointed with that performance. It’s not what we’re about and it’s very frustrating.”
As in the Scarlets game, Connacht were left to rue inidividual errors and missed scoring opportunities as their mid-season slump continued. Their fifth reversal in a row – third by way of a losing bonus point – owed much to a streak of indiscipline and a series of unsuccessful place-kicks (AJ MacGinty and Jack Carty missed three conversions and two penalties between them).
The province had got off to a dream start when Danie Poolman leapt to win MacGinty’s kick-off and Muldoon was involved in a move which saw young centre Rory Parata burst through to score with barely 40 seconds on the clock. MacGinty could not convert from the left touchline.
Connacht were caught offside in their own 22 in the fifth minute, and Laranjeira smacked over a penalty to cut the lead to two points. MacGinty was unable to respond, shaving the right hand post with an effort from 30 metres out
The French side showed their forward muscle to earn a 17th minute scrum penalty – an area they established dominance in – and Laranjeira was on target again. He split the posts for a third time approaching the half hour mark, punishing Muldoon for going offside as the home side opened up a 9-5 lead.
With Connacht struggling to maintain both possession and territory, Brive were the aggressors leading up to half-time and the visitors’ defence was thoroughly tested from two lineout mauls. Brive number 8 Sisaro Koyamaibole fumbled close to the Connacht try-line, while Laranjeira had his only penalty miss shortly afterwards.
Connacht looked in better fettle on the restart, forcing a ruck penalty which MacGinty sent through the uprights for a 9-8 scoreline. Brive’s powerful scrum allowed Laranjeira to respond before Connacht lock Ultan Dillane was ruled short of the whitewash after being fed on the wing, with the covering defender doing just enough to prevent the try.
However, good work from Dillane in the lineout and Bundee Aki, on a typically strong midfield carry, launched Connacht forward in the 52nd minute and there was no mistake this time as accurate offloading played in Muldoon for his opening try of the night.
MacGinty’s conversion attempt hit the left post and went wide, however, and those missed kicks would come back to haunt Connacht as Laranjeira, nailing two more shots at goal, steadied the ship for Brive at 18-13.
In between, winger Poolman came to Connacht’s rescue in forcing Benito Maasilevu in touch while diving over the line. Carty narrowly missed the target with a 74th minute penalty, before Lam’s charges built for a big finish.
The in-form Matt Healy delighted the travelling support by gathering two consecutive chip kicks, setting up a thrilling attack that ended with replacement scrum half Caolin Blade being hauled down in sight of the try-line. Still, the visitors earned a close-in penalty which was taken quickly and Muldoon crashed over to complete his brace.
Again though, Carty’s 78th-minute conversion from the right missed the target and Brive’s advantage in the scrum eventually decided this exceptionally tight tussle. A Connacht knock-on invited the hosts forward and their set piece, following a third reset, did enough to win a long range penalty which Laranjeira coolly converted for a hard-fought win.
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