Connacht get a Grenoble gruelling

Connacht 19 Grenoble 52: Bernard Jackman returned to Connacht with his Grenoble troops and blitzed the westerners for eight tries at the Sportsground. 

Daniel Kilioni touched down twice as the French were irresistible after half-time. They led 19-12 at half-time.

Jack Carty and Ian Porter crossed for Connacht before the break, but debut man Ben Marshall was the only other try-scorer for them on the night.

But the concession of eight tries from Kilioni, Mahamadou Diaby, James Hart, Fabrice Estebanez, Chris Farrell, Amrand Batlle and Nigel Hunt was not the best warm-up for the season.

Scorers for Connacht:

J Carty, I Porter, B Marshall try; J Carty, S O’Leary cons.

Scorers for Grenoble:

D Kilioni 2 tries, M Diaby, J Hart, F Estebanez, C Farrell, A Batlle, N Hunt tries; J Hart 2 cons, C Gelin 4 cons.

CONNACHT:

D Leader; F Carr, A Pewhairangi, B Aki, D Poolman; J Carty, I Porter; JP Cooney, T McCartney, R Ah You; U Dillane, D Qualter; J Muldoon (capt), J Connolly, E McKeon.

Replacements:

C McKeon, G Naoupu, N Adeolokun, S O’Leary, D McSharry, R Parata, C Blade, F Bealham, S Delahunt, S O’Brien, N White, B Marshall, S O’Brien.

GRENOBLE:

R Caire; A Batlle, F Estebanez, C Farrell, X Mignot; C Gelin, J Hart; F Barcella, L Bouchet, W Demaison; B Hand, J Percival; J Best, M Diaby, F Alexandre.

Replacements:

D Kilioni, D Coulson, A Hegarty, D Edwards, M Marie, P Kimlin, R Grice, C Loustalot, C McLeod, J Wisniewski, N Hunt J Willison, G Aplon.

Referee:

Dudley Phillips (Ireland).