Wilkins wants Connacht to build on remarkable record in France

Connacht have enjoyed a fairly impressive run of results in France, nearly all of them in the second tier competition.

Thu, 04 Apr, 2024 - 15:09

John Fallon

Connacht’s season has taken a bit of wobble recently but they can take a big step towards European glory on Sunday evening when they take on Pau and in the process enhance a remarkable run of results in France.

Victory on Sunday at Stade du Hameau would make it 14 French clubs that Connacht have won away to in European competition, having become the first Irish province to win a competitive match in France when Warren Gatland’s side defeated Bordeaux-Bègles in the European Conference back in the 1996/97 season.

Connacht have enjoyed a fairly impressive run of results in France, nearly all of them in the second tier competition.

Sunday’s trip to the Pyrenees will be the 41st match they have played away to French sides — one of them, a Challenge Cup clash with Oyonnax was moved over the Swiss border to Geneva — and so far they have been victorious on 17 of those trips.

But what is fairly astonishing is that those 17 victories have come at 13 different clubs. Montpellier, Bayonne, Bordeaux-Bègles and Brive are the only sides they have defeated twice over there.

Their impressive run of 17 wins in 40 vists in France is in stark contrast to their dreadful record in England, where they have only won twice in 31 visits and have lost at 12 different clubs.

Connacht have lost eight of the nine Champions Cup games they have played in France but one of their finest days ever came when they stunned Toulouse 16-14 in December 2013 in their own backyard at Stade Ernest Wallon.

But Connacht have won more Challenge Cup games — 16 to 15 — than they have lost in France and head coach Pete Wilkins hopes they take another notch on Sunday when they travel to Pau, having lost there on their only visit 20 years ago.

“The URC focus is sharpening now that we know how many games are left and what sort of points we are after, but to have the opportunity to go into an European knockout game is terrific and the lads are buzzing about that,” said Wilkins.

"Pau have their own qualities, but I think our lessons of what we did well and what we can improve on from the game in Italy last week will be a really important part of setting us up for success in France this weekend.”

Connacht victories in France (All in Challenge Cup except where stated)

1996-97 — Bordeaux-Bègles 15-9

2002-03 — Mont de Marsan 26-12

2003-04 — Beziers 18-10

2003-04 — Narbonne 27-18

2004-05 — Grenoble 26-21

2005-06 — Montpellier 19-13

2008-09 — Dax 30-12

2009-10 — Montpellier 22-19

2010-11 — Bayonne 35-21

2013-14 — Toulouse 16-14 (Champions Cup)

2014-15 — Bayonne 29-27