Connacht from time to time produce huge displays to upset the odds, but their victory today at the Stade Ernest Wallon could well top the lot.
The lowest try scorers in the Rabo faced the highest try scorers in the Heineken Cup and a side that had only lost once at home in Europe in the last four years. However, buoyed perhaps by the outstanding performances of the other three Irish provinces this weekend, they showed little fear and eased into a six point lead in the opening quarter with a penalty and drop goal from Dan Parks.
The star-studded home side hit back on the stroke of half time with a Jean Pascal Barraque try, but rather than knock the stuffing out of the underdogs they responded after the break with another penalty from Parks before Robbie Henshaw put Fionn Carr over in the corner for a converted try.
Henshaw himself had a brilliant try ruled out by the TMO before a Thierry Dustoir try and a Lionel Beauxis conversion made it a two-point game.
However Lam’s men were not to be denied and even managed a turnover in what was a great display of composure to close the game out. Henshaw, Parks, Carr, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon and man-of-the-match Kieran Marmion were outstanding, but it was a collective effort as the men from the west recorded one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history.
What a weekend for Irish teams in Europe’s premier competition.
