Elwood’s men earn week off

Connacht 18 Benetton Treviso 3

In grabbing a timely third win of the campaign before the break for the autumn internationals, Connacht leapfrogged their Italian opponents on a night when the driving rain ensured Dan Parks’ influence proved vital.

“At the start of the game, with the weather that was in it, if someone had said we would win 18-3, would we take it? Absolutely,” admitted Elwood.

“We have given the lads a week off, which is well deserved, and hopefully they will be energised coming back for the next block of nine games.

“And, if we can get a few more guys back from injury in the next week or so, it will be terrific.”

The former South African Stormer Danie Poolman grabbed the opening-half try in his first start for the province, while replacement Gavin Duffy, just back from injury and seconds on the pitch, sealed victory with a 72nd-minute try. Elwood also singled out returning flanker Andrew Browne, alongside veteran Michael Swift, for praise.

“I thought Andrew Browne was terrific, Michael Swift was also immense in defence, and a lot of credit goes to those two guys in particular.”

Parks had the home side 6-0 in front with two penalties in the opening 15 minutes, but it was Poolman’s 29th-minute try that turned the game. Parks was instrumental with his chip from which full-back Robbie Henshaw kicked on for Poolman to pounce, and the Scottish legend converted for a 13-0 half-time lead.

“It wasn’t a night for playing too much rugby — it was about field position and territory, so we played some decent rugby but not in our own half, so it was important to rectify that in the second half by playing a bit more possession, but we didn’t get that many opportunities,” said Elwood. “The lineout went well in the first half, but it was difficult in the conditions. Treviso have a very good scrum, but we showed a lot of stability there, and we deprived them of set piece in our own half and nullified their maul, which was encouraging.”

Defensively, Connacht were on their toes in the second half as a series of penalties gave Treviso an attacking platform. However, the Italians could only muster a penalty from out-half Alberto di Bernardo, while a second effort hit the upright. Parks, however, continued to direct operations, while a super break from John Muldoon established field position before Duffy crossed out wide to seal the win.

“We had been disappointed with some of the games we left behind early in the year, but we could not do anything about that — that was why we put a big focus on this game — it was a must win, and yes, results went out way over the weekend, but it was no use to us unless we did our business.”

CONNACHT: R Henshaw; T O’Halloran, D Poolman, D McSharry, F Vainikolo; D Parks, K Marmion; D Buckley, J Harris-Wright, N White; M Swift, M McCarthy; A Browne, J O’Connor, E McKeon. Replacements: J Muldoon for O’Connor (52), M Kearney for McCarthy (55), A Flavin for Harris-Wright (60), R Ah Your for Buckley (67), R Loughney for White (70), G Duffy for O’Halloran (72), D Moore for Marmion and M Nikora for Parks (both 78).

BENETTON TREVISO: B Williams; A Pratichetti, C Loamanu, A Vilk, A Esposito, A Di Bernardo, F Semenzto; M Muccignat, F Sbaraglini, J Roux; M Fuser, C Van Zyl; M Vosawai, V Bernabo, M Filippucci. Replacements: G Toniolatti for Esposito (52), E Ceccato for Sbaraglini, A De Marchi for Muccignat and I Fernadez-Rouyet for Roux (all 59), C Maistri for Filippucci, J Ambrosini for Williams (74, E Galon for Vilk (78).

Referee: L Hodges (WRU).