Connacht diehards shock French aristocrats

Toulouse 14 Connacht 16

Against all the odds, including a difference of some €30million in budget, the Cinderellas of Irish rugby currently rooted to the bottom of the RaboDirect Pro12 League, pulled off a victory no one would have expected. For the first time this season the four-time Heineken Cup champions, currently second in the Top 14, were beaten in Stade Ernest Wallon.

It was the result Connacht coach Pat Lam had demanded on the back of a dismal league defeat to Edinburgh, but few expected it would translate into a Pool Three victory.