Connacht 10
Toulouse 36
It was a long time coming but an occasion worth waiting for. The day the Heineken Cup finally came to town and Connacht’s supporters weren’t found wanting. The Sportsground was a cauldron, bubbling with excitement and anticipation from early afternoon.
Over 9,000 people crowded into the newly built terraces for the match everyone had been waiting for. The team took to the pitch amid a cacophony of sound and a blaze of fireworks. With all of Europe watching, Connacht wanted to put on a spectacle. Sadly it was Toulouse who put on a show on the pitch.
In their hearts the players know they didn’t perform as well as they can. They didn’t hit the heights of last week’s game against Harlequins but Toulouse didn’t let them. That Harlequins game proved Connacht are no soft target, an easy four points for the giants of European rugby. Toulouse coach Guy Noves had studied that match intently and paid Connacht the ultimate compliment of playing his strongest side, if it’s possible to pick one for Toulouse. They had a game plan, strangling the life from their opponents and cutting off their possession.
It was never going to be easy and so it proved. World Cup finalists against a team with a single Irish international. Four times champions against a team making their home debut in the competition.
Toulouse started with intent and purpose. They were determined to quell the vociferous and passionate home crowd and took every opportunity to do so. Beauxis opted to kick every penalty he could and Toulouse had steadily built up a lead before Bouilhou crossed for their opening try on 22 minutes. Things got worse for Connacht seven minutes later with Mike McCarthy’s sinbinning and Beauxis added three more penalties before half time.
In the second half Connacht worked hard and typically displayed the resilience and courage that has got them here. Supported by a passionate home crowd they never gave up and fought on through the second half. Their perseverance was rewarded with a penalty try with just ten minutes to go but Toulouse were just too good.
Captain Gavin Duffy was magnificent under the high ball and combined excellently with Tiernan O’Halloran. It was Duffy’s running and off loads that led to the penalty try. In the centre Dave McSharry and Eoin Griffin showed sparks of attacking flair, even when Toulouse had Connacht under pressure. And the pressure from the four times champions was relentless. The forwards were under immense pressure throughout the 80 minutes but they kept going right to the end.
Afterwards, a visibly emotional Gavin Duffy spoke about the incredible atmosphere around the Sportsground and how the occasion lived up to his imaginings. “Yeah it was incredible, it was unbelievable to be honest with you.”
Duffy admitted that Connacht had been at their best but could still take pride in their performance against the French aristocrats.
“Their transition from defence into attack was a bit of an eye-opener as well, the way they attacked the breakdown, their off-loads. I think they were very, very good. Perhaps we didn’t hit the high standards we have hit over the last couple of weeks but I think we can be proud of our efforts as well.”
Coach Eric Elwood paid tribute to the supporters and staff who had worked tirelessly to create the incredible occasion. “I said from day one that it's really important to recognise that these games in the Heineken Cup are opportunities not just what we do on the park but off the park as well. A great credit has to go to the people that came here, there was great colour, the ground was transformed into what looked like a sporting arena, so that was encouraging.
“People made themselves heard and the lads did their bit, so it was that whole inclusive package we wanted to sell that makes us feel we can grow.”
He also acknowledged the supporters who have been there through the bad days and hoped that some of the 9000 who filled the Sportsgrounds last night will return on the wet and windy Friday nights when the opposition is less glamourous.
“We're trying to build something here and I hope people keep believing in what we're trying to do on the pitch. Obviously the growth off the pitch is important, too, and we want people to buy into it, it's about people coming up every Friday, every Saturday, no matter who we are playing," he added.
Connacht failed to do themselves justice against Toulouse and they are a much better side than they showed last night. Maybe now, with the hype and history consigned to the past, Connacht can concentrate on rugby and give themselves and their supporters a chance to make nights like last night a regular feature in their future.
Scorers – Connacht: M Nikora (1 pen, 1 con); penalty try. Toulouse: L Beauxis (4 pens, 3 cons, 1 dg); J Bouilhou (1 try); Y Nyanga (1 try); penalty try.
Connacht: G Duffy (capt); B Tuohy; E Griffin (H Fa’afili 67); D McSharry; T O'Halloran; M Nikora; P O'Donohoe (F Murphy 52); B Wilkinson; A Flavin (E Reynecke 50, yc 76); R Ah You (D Rogers 50); M Swift; D Gannon (R Ofisa 54); M McCarthy (yc 29-39); J Muldoon (TJ Anderson 64, A Flavin 76); G Naoupu.
Toulouse: C Poitrenaud (L McAllister 51); M Medard; F Fritz; Y Jauzion; V Clerc; L Beauxis; L Burgess (N Vergallo 62); Y Montes (JB Poux 69); W Servat (G Botha 51); C Johnston (J Falefa 51); G Lamboley; Y Maestri (R Millo-Chluski 56, Y Nyanga 68); J Bouilhou (capt); T Dusatoir; L Picamoles (G Gallan 60).
Referee: G Garner (England)
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