So near, yet so far again for Connacht

Connacht 12 Munster 16

The outcome of the keenly contested RaboDirect Pro12 encounter was decided by two massive decisions involving referee Dudley Phillips and television match official Marshall Gilgore. The former awarded a penalty try after a single scrummage infringement close to the Connacht line in the 36th minute, the latter decreed that George Naoupu had failed to touch down for what would have proven a decisive try in the 70th minute.

Throw in the failure of winger Fetu’u Vainikolo to capitalise on a gilt-edged try-scoring opportunity on the half hour and you readily understood why Elwood once again believed the rugby gods were lining up against him.