Connacht overcome errors to stay on track

[team1]Connacht[/team1][score1]25[/score1][team2]Cheetahs[/team2][score2]17[/score2][/score]

Coach Andy Friend was delighted to see Connacht claim victory over the Cheetahs, leaving destiny in their own hands as they chase a PRO14 play-off spot.

It’s a massive few weeks for the westerners, who take on Conference A rivals Glasgow Warriors next Friday evening, before they host Ospreys the following week.

With a six-point gap back to Cheetahs now, Jarrad Butler’s last-minute try at the weekend could be a massive score as it denied the South Africans a losing bonus point.

“Every game becomes a must win now because we’re playing everyone that’s around us, Cheetahs were two points behind, we’re six ahead now,” said Friend.

“Glasgow are just ahead of us... our destiny is very much in our hands. We have to make sure we’re not watching what they’re doing. If we keep winning, playing our brand of football, we control our destiny.”

For long periods of this game it appeared as if Connacht would gain no reward at all, such was Cheetahs’ dominance and the errors that blighted the home side’s play.

First-half tries for Rabz Maxwane and Louis Fouche were reward for Cheetahs early brilliance, but after Tom Farrell hit back, Tom McCartney gave Connacht the lead with a mauled try after the break. Shaun Venter levelled with a super try for Cheetahs, but Jack Carty’s outstanding territorial kicking helped Connacht to the win.

It is still unclear what role Carty will play in next weekend’s games, whether he’ll be in Scotstoun or at Stadio Olimpico on Ireland duty, but Friend wants to see him continue to thrive.

“For Jack Carty, I’d love for him to be in Rome, for Connacht Rugby I’d love for him to be in Glasgow,” said Friend.

“But listen, whether it’s Jack or any other fellows, when they get the call up, they won’t let their country down, I know they won’t.”

Carty, Ultan Dillane, Farrell and Caolin Blade all started for Connacht following three weeks with Ireland and all four impressed.

Also back in the side for the first time since the Ireland win over New Zealand was Kieran Marmion and he logged a successful 20 minutes off the bench. Plenty of positives for the home side.

Scorers for Connacht:

T Farrell, T McCartney, J Butler tries; J Carty 2 cons, 2 pens.

Scorers for Cheetahs:

R Maxwane, L Fouche, S Venter tries; T Schoeman con.

CONNACHT:

D Leader; C Kelleher, T Farrell, T Daly (K Godwin 73), S Fitzgerald; J Carty, C Blade (K Marmion 59); D Buckley (P McCabe 62), T McCartney (D Heffernan, 56), F Bealham (D Robertson-McCoy 62); U Dillane (C Gallagher 73), J Cannon; E McKeon (P Boyle 56), C Fainga’a, J Butler (c).

TOYOTA CHEETAHS:

L Fouche; W Small-Smith (T Meyer 80), D Swanepoel, N Lee, S Maxwane; T Schoeman (c), S Venter (R Paige 78); O Nche (L de Bruin 50), M van der Merwe (J du Tiot 80), J Coetzee (O Nche 70); J Wiese (S Manjezi 50), JP du Preez (W Steenkamp 50); A Nonkontwana, J Pokomela (H Venter 54), G Olivier.

Referee:

N Owens (WRU)