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John Fallon reports from Dexcom Stadium
A NEW ERA for Connacht was suitably crowned with a statement win against the coach that brought them their only piece of silverware but if the entertainment value at the Dexcom Stadium continues at this level, then they should start planning for a few more stands to accommodate the crowd.
The net result is that Connacht remain in European action and will be in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup in April as they ended a seven-match losing run in the Champions Cup.
Indeed, they could even sneak into the last 16 of the Champions Cup if Saracens capitulate at home to Lyon tomorrow, but Connacht will be just happy to be playing European rugby in April.
Pat Lam’s return to what used to be The Sportsground could hardly have gone much worse as his ill-disciplined and sloppy slide was put to the sword by a fired-up Connacht side.
Connacht got the perfect start when good work by Andrew Smith and David Hawkshaw ended with Shayne Bolton scoring down the left for the opening try.
That score rocked Bristol but they suffered a huge blow six minutes later when lock Josh Caulfield was red-carded when he stamped on the head of Irish prop Finlay Bealham while attempting to plant his leg and enter a breakdown. Bealham had to go off for a HIA.
His temporary replacement Jack Aungier made the most of his cameo when an opening created by captain Caolin Blade ended with Aungier scoring beside the posts while an advantage was being played for a high tackle on Blade.
JJ Hanrahan added the conversion to make it 12-0 as Bristol Bears were dealt another blow as tighthead Kyle Sinkler was binned for an infringement in the build-up.
Connacht failed to increase their lead while they had a two-man advantage and as Sinkler returned, former Connacht out-half AJ MacGinty reduced the margin with a penalty from 25 metres.
But the Connacht response was immediate. They went for the left corner with a 35-metre penalty and after a good take from the recalled lock Niall Murray, Blade sniped over to make it 17-0 after 34 minutes. Jack Carty, on for the injured Hanrahan, was narrowly off with the conversion.
Bristol piled on the pressure before the break but two good lineout steals from Murray, and two try-saving tackles in the space of seconds from Hawkshaw to deny Harry Randall and then Kalaveti Ravouvou, ensured Connacht went in leading by 17-3, much to the joy of the capacity 6,129 crowd.
They had more cause for cheer after the restart. Smith was harshly denied a spectacular try in the right corner but after twice opting for scrums from penalties, Connacht again went wide and Smith scored down the same side Carty added the extras to stretch the lead to 24-3.
Fijian winger Kalaveti Ravoulou sliced through the home defence down the right for what seemed a wonderful try but it was scratched on review as Cian Prendergast and Hawkshaw — again — did enough to dislodge the ball before touchdown.
There was no way back for the Bears after that and Carty closed out the win with a late penalty, with Bristol getting a consolation penalty try at the death.
Scorers: Connacht: Tries: S Bolton, J Aungier, C Blade, A Smith. Cons: J Carty (1 from 2), JJ Hanrahan (1 from 2). Pen: Carty (1 from 1).
Bristol Bears: Penalty try. Pen: AJ MacGinty.
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran (Oran McNulty ’59); Andrew Smith, David Hawkshaw, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton; JJ Hanrahan (Jack Carty ‘29), Caolin Blade (Michael McDonald ’73); Denis Buckley (Peter Dooley ’55), Tadhg McElroy (Dave Heffernan ’55), Finlay Bealham (Jack Aungier ‘14-21, ’41, Bealham ’55); Niall Murray (Oisin Dowling ’60), Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Jarrad Butler (Conor Oliver ’60).
Bristol Bears: Max Malins; Kalaeti Ravouvou (Max Lahiff ‘24-31), Virimi Vakatawa (James Williams ’53), Benhand Janse van Rensburg, Gabriel Ibitoye (Piers O’Connor ‘77); AJ MacGinty, Harry Randall (Kieran Marmion ’50); Jake Woolmore (Lahiff ’49), Gabriel Oghre (Will Capon ‘43), Kyle Sinckler (Sam Grahamslaw ’74); Josh Caulfield, Joe Batley; Steve Luatua, Fitz Harding (capt) (Dan Thomas ’61, Joe Owen ‘67), Magnus Bradbury.
Referee: Pierre Brousset, replaced by Pierre Baptiste Nuchy at half-time (Both France).
Written by John Fallon and posted on the42.ie
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It’s looking more likely that Brexit negotiations will outlive a global pandemic.
@LangerDan: at this stage will outlive us.
@LangerDan: New deadline 31 Dec 2031
Haven’t they figured it out yet that Boris and his mates don’t want a deal, they want the wild west of financial banking so they can make billions, while the normal brits suffers
@Jim Buckley Barrett: Think this is a face saving exercise on behalf of the UK. It will be done quietly when everyone is occupied with the Christmas and not on high alert.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: ya but surely you know that the financial sector in UK will take a massive hit with a no deal if they don’t have access to European markets and money
@Joe Johnson: Surely you should know that Jim Buckley Barrett is a complete air __ head and you should not engage with people like that
@Jim Buckley Barrett: of course they have and have wasted so much time pandering to the brexiteers. But I’m sure the EU do not want to give the tories and their media any ammunition when the tories pull the plug. Well played the EU….as much as it annoys most of us.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: This is what the Tories and their hedge fund friends want. Singapore on Thames is the ideo of deep deregulation and dumping of services and products on European market. Now Brits are surprised that EU will protect its internal market. This is the same breed of economic right wing populism as in US. The one difference UK is not US. Let them be. There will be pain as hell but now everybody in EU agrees not on fact that austerity dose not work in time of crisis. We should get better soon after the covid issue is contained. In few years time we will se who was right looking at France and UK. They are similar in population and GDP. If France will grow faster and will have larger GDP the Brexit will be a certified failure.
@Merlin Lancelot: He’s right though
@Adam Hernes: Accurate assessment, our main worry will be energy costs in the short term until the Celtic Interconnector is completed in 2026 between here and France, as we import a lot of our electricity. Of course there is a high possibility Scotland independence vote will pass next time round, and they will probably rejoin the EU, meaning the impact might not be as severe.
It’s Britains way or the high way, Ursula wasting her time, Johnson was all over the UK media yesterday explaining why a No deal will be great for them. And don’t forget the threat of armed malitia on boats
@David Lee: One one hardly describe the British navy as malitia or (militia)
@David Lee: Boris being Boris….his tune flips depending on who he’s talking to. He trots out the ‘we’ll prosper mightily, regardless’ line knowing that it’s almost so vague that it can’t be challenged.
@David Lee: if no deal is suh a good deal for them, what are they negotiating for?
Ursula should read up on some Irish history to fully know what she is dealing with.
@Pádraic Ó Braonáin: She’s German, she’s knows exactly what the British are like.
Never ending circus.
Ah Jesus
Brinkmanship.
It will go to the wire, but they’ll find a way.
@John Mulligan: well this week the uk supermarkets were warned to stockpile…and there were queues in France…that shows where the real power lies. we will see how long they stay on the brink if they cant feed themselves…
The only thing they ever seem to achieve is missing deadlines.
(And I know if should be the case if they make a deal).
A deal would obviously be worth it but it shows a certain bluffer that real world politics trumps the bluster and guff he gets away with in London.
Johnson has been ringing individual leaders of European countries in an age old attempt at divide and conquer. It used to work back in the days of empire (as did gun boat diplomacy!) His efforts to turn EU states against each other is so obvious its pathetic. He seems to represent those who want to destabilise western democracy and not the wishes of the majority of British people.
Boris was always going to cave. He doesnt have the ba11s for a no deal.
It’ll be extended for a few more weeks or months.
@Canyon: hopefully the EU will just tell them to deploy their silly little gunboats.
@Canyon: Most likely will be extended to March/April
@Canyon: can they still do that after Jan 1st
@SaveTheTrees: can they still do that after Jan 1st
Just let them off, sick of it all. And let it be a lesson to all remaining EU countries to not be so dependent on trade with one single country. The UK are is the weaker position, and all of this is only postering to panic the EU into giving them what they want
@Tony Corbàn: it’s a pity that we depend on Britain so much for everyday stuff. We should import more direct from the continent in terms of grocery and hardware. We have to improve our independence from Britain.
Tis definitely a day for pucking ball down the field. Death by a thousand cuts.
Its becoming clear at last, both sides negotiate in perpetuity, keeping the current T&C’s and when the Brits decide to return to the EU the negotiations will stop…Simple
@Ivor O’Sullivan: can that actually happen.
Irl should learn from Brits…you have to play hardball of you get rolled over.
@Aire Dezamba: Boris has been scuttling to Brussels and had the cold water of reality thrown over him since he has been PM despite promising that GB would be ‘leaving come what may’. The only people being rolled are the UK public.
@Aire Dezamba: is this what you call playing hard ball? Really? Lol.
Bertie deserves his 17 grand top up.He’s a rock of sense.
@Leonard O’mahony: He’s a crock of nonsense.
Bertie was correct. Looks like people are coming to their sences.
Can a non-Eu country have free trade with the Eu without complying to Eu rules imposed on Eu companies? And if so under wto rules such a deal would have to be offered to other non-Eu countries eg. china, india etc.
@Damian Moylan: no and no, to answer the questions
Boris himself is a ‘feàr’ apart himself – he’s really living up to his name…haunted! – sure he even looks like a ghost – England is a lovely country – geographically – but politically- its a disaster zone!
The Brexit negotiations keep continuing due to the Irish Taoiseach insistence to the EU commission to keep trying. Irish farmers will get EU subsidies in event of a no-deal Brexit from when I last checked. Business is leaving London for Dublin, not all, but a lot. I suppose the nation that really wants its cake and to eat is Republic of Ireland.
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