Connacht count cost of injuries after beating Brive

Connacht 21 Brive 17: Connacht remain top of their European pool but have been left counting the cost of injuries ahead of their meeting with Munster on Saturday, having taken a heavy hit on personnel during their victory over French visitors Brive in the Sportsground on Saturday.

“We are on the back foot again against Munster,” says Connacht coach Pat Lam. “They [Munster] have had a week off and this is probably the biggest hit we have taken injury-wise, but we have to learn from what we have been through, not just in the last couple of weeks, but through this season and last.”

With openside Nepia Fox-Matamua now out with a knee injury, Andrew Browne having had hand surgery immediately after the game, and lock Ben Marshall and Eoin McKeon undergoing concussion protocols, Connacht’s task in Thomond Park has became that much harder.

“We said the last two weeks was going to build our mental toughness and it was an opportunity to build resilience. We’ve a lot of things thrown our way and the boys have handled it well, but to lose Nepia Fox-Matamua and Eoin McKeon at the same time, then Brownie [Andrew] had his hand split, and we ended up with three front rowers in a reorganised pack, it was a gutsy effort,” said Lam.

Fox-Matamua’s loss is exacerbated by the long term unavailability of Jake Heenen, who is not due back from his shoulder surgery until next month, leaving just one openside available, third year Academy player James Connolly.

Brive had Connacht on the back foot in the early exchanges, but they failed to open their tally when full-back Romaine Sola missed two penalty attempts. However hooker Thomas Acquier broke the scoring impasse from a classic line-out and drive after 25 minutes.

Connacht, however, took control for the remainder of the half, but were unable to convert chances until right wing Rory Parata dived over from a Carty crossfield kick, and the out-half struck two penalties for an 11-5 lead at the break.

Two tries after the restart kept Connacht in the driving seat, Ben Marshall crossing out wide and scrum-half Kieran Marion profiting from Niyi Adeolokun and Robbie Henshaw’s burst up the wing.

Although left wing Benito Masilevu touched down for Brive, Connacht were comfortable with a 21-10 lead. However, when replacement Sevenaia Galala burst through from five metres, Brive were within four points, setting up a tense finish.

“It was tough on the ticker at the end, but it’s also a reflection of where this team is at. We are in the habit of of winning by working hard,” says Lam. “Now we have to regroup and prepare well for a big game — it’s No 1 versus No 2 down in Thomond Park.”

CONNACHT:

T O’Halloran (cpt), R Parata, R Henshaw, B Aki, N Adeolokun, J Carty, K Marmion, R Loughney, J Harris-Wright, N White, B Marshall, A Browne, E Materson, N Fox-Matamua, E McKeon.

Replacements:

D Qualter for Marshall (47), F Bealham for White and C Ronaldson for Aki (53 ), I Porter for Marmion (63), D Heffernan for Fox-Matamua and G Naoupu for McKeon (both 62), C O’Donnell for R Loughney (71), R Loughney for Browne (73).

BRIVE:

R Sola, E Radikedike, B Petre, C Tuatara, B Masilevu, M Ugalde, JB Pejoine (cpt), D Lavergne, T Acquier, Kk Buys, J Snyman, W Steenkamp, H Briatte, P Luafutu, W Whetton.

Replacements:

A Mafi for Sola (ht), S Hireche for Whetton, G Jgenti for Buys, G Ribes for Acquier, and G Shvelidze for Lavernge (all 49), S Galala for Mafi (52), T Iribaren for Radikedike (53), V Lebas for Steenkamp (71).

Referee:

Craig Maxwell-Keys