Connacht hit with late sucker punch

Cheetahs 26 Connacht 25: Two weeks ago, as Connacht headed off on a tour to Treviso in Italy and the Highveld in South Africa, they would probably have settled for a return of five points against two sides who have been chalking up the results in their own backyards.

But as Connacht departed Bloemfontein yesterday for the journey back to freezing Ireland, there was little cause for celebration as Cheetahs struck for a last-gasp winner to deny Kieran Keane’s men a deserved success.

Keane said afterwards that the ‘gut-wrenching’ loss would harden his men and while the loss all but puts paid to their ailing PRO14 hopes, the performance will boost them as they prepare for their Challenge Cup quarter-final at the end of the month against Gloucester.