Elwood puts faith in Connacht comeback

Connacht veteran Eric Elwood is confident his side will bounce back from their disheartening 25-18 Challenge Cup semi-final first leg loss to Sale Sharks in Galway.

The 36-year-old, who retires at the end of this season after 17 seasons with Connacht, turned in a man-of-the-match performance, kicking eight points and bossing the Sportsground showdown for up to an hour.

However, a bulldozing Sharks scrum set up France number eight Sebastien Chabal for a 63rd-minute try – levelling it at 11-11 – and two late Mark Cueto scores in the space of 11 minutes gifted Philipp Saint-Andre’s visitors a surprise 14-point buffer.

Captain Andrew Farley though was on the end of an injury-time maul to plunder his and Connacht’s second try in the sixth-minute of injury time, and fly-half Elwood insisted that that converted score could make the difference for the province in the Edgeley park return leg on April 24.

“It’s only a converted try and we’ve come back from worse before,” admitted Elwood – who kicked Connacht’s only points when they lost out 44-6 at Sale three years ago.

“Sale were tough opposition and all credit to them, they came back well after we went 11-6 up, but we can’t be too disheartened.

“I was really pleased we got in for the late try – we had to get something in the closing stages after letting Sale in for their three tries. It’s still there for the taking.”

Sharks director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre – who watched Mike Hercus, a late replacement for Charlie Hodgson (groin) miss four first-half kicks – said: “The win was the important thing. We did a lot of things wrong and didn’t take our points, which was disappointing.

“But scoring three tries away from home is always satisfying and we have to be confident for the second leg now.”