Connacht farewell to Pat Lam falls flat in Galway

Connacht 8 Scarlets 30: A defence of their unforgettable PRO12 title win that began with two heavy home defeats, fizzled out with another drubbing at the Sportsground for Connacht.

Pat Lam’s charges may yet sneak into the Champions Cup through the play-offs but that looks a tall order as they prepare for a likely trip to England on the weekend when Leinster, Munster, Ospreys and Scarlets will be battling it out in the semi-finals for the PRO12 crown.

Though they may be returning to the Sportsground at the end of the month for a Champions Cup play-off decider, the atmosphere on Saturday night suggested this was the end of the Lam era.