Connacht's troubles continue as Montpellier power back from 17 down
Connacht's Sean Walsh is tackled by Montpellier's Arthur Vincent. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie
This is turning out to be a very tough opening season for Stuart Lancaster in charge of Connacht as they again let a winning hand slip just when it seemed their best display of the season had secured an unlikely but badly needed win at the Septeo Stadium in Montpellier.
Connacht were in the driving seat when a fine display built a 31-14 lead with just 14 minutes left but they lost their way in the closing stages and the strong Montpellier side made them pay, running in three tries to remain top of the pool.
It was another horrible collapse from Connacht who saw all their brilliant hard work shredded in the closing stages.
The two bonus points should be enough to secure safe passage to the knockout stages but their first campaign under Lancaster so badly needed a win at this stage.
That will come against a disinterested Montauban next weekend but Montpellier’s scalp would have counted for something two weeks out from their meeting with Leinster to open the completed Dexcom Stadium.
Connacht, with 57% possession, deservedly led 24-14 at the end of an opening half where they made the most of their chances and produced some excellent defensive sets when it mattered most as Montpellier drove at them.
The groundwork was laid with impressive showings from wingers Shane Jennings and Finn Treacy, precision box-kicking from scrum-half Ben Murphy and line-breaks from Josh Ioane which cut holes in the home defence.
Connacht had to twice come from behind in the opening half with centre Thomas Darmon giving Montpellier a perfect start with a try from deep after a Jennings break had sent his captain Cian Prendergast away but the support was slow in arriving and scrum-half Leo Coly countered from his own 22 to send Darmon through.
Coly converted but only after regaining his composure after he was toppled when referee Morne Ferreira backed into him as he crouched putting the ball on the tee.
A break from Ioane set up Connacht’s opening try after eleven minutes with Treacy doing superbly to pass inside before he was bundled into touch and Murphy supplied the finish by going outside Scottish veteran Stuart Hogg.
Montpellier hit back with a try in the right corner from 20-year-old hooker Lyam Akrab after a penalty, but Connacht responded with an identical try four minutes later with Dylan Tierney-Martin scoring his 13th try. Gilbert levelled with his second excellent conversion from opposite sides.
Three penalties inside the 22 and sanction warning for Connacht suggested it was only a matter of time before Montpellier went back in front but the defence was top class with loosehead Billy Bohan, making his first start, winning the turnover ten minutes from the break.
That set the platform for Connacht to counter and Jennings did superbly to send Treacy through to score in the left corner. Gilbert again converted from the wing and then pushed the lead out to 24-14 at the interval with a penalty from 25 metres.
They pushed that lead out to 31-14 seven minutes after the restart when centres Cathal Forde and Harry West combined to send Gilbert through for the bonus point before the New Zealander added his fourth conversion.
The French responded but Prendergast, Sean Jansen and Paul Boyle led the way in meeting the challenge, with Prendergast winning a Montpellier lineout in the right corner after 52 minutes.
Gilbert did superbly to deny Melvyn Rates a try in the left corner, while at the other end Treacy was denied a second when Ioane was pinged for offside in the build-up.
Hooker Matthew Victory, centre John Devine and German scrum-half Albert Lindner all came on to make their debuts in the final quarter but it was Montpellier who finished strongly.
Winger Melvyn Rates got the comeback going when he crossed in the left corner after 66 minutes with Hogg’s conversion reducing the margin to 31-21.
Hogg was instrumental in setting up the bonus point try for replacement scrum-half Alexis Bernadet. West pushed him before he touched down which seemed key when Hogg narrowly missed the conversion from the left touchline to leave five between them going into the closing ten minutes.
But the reprieve was short-lived as Gilbert’s clearance was charged down five minutes from time and Montpellier, with penalty advantage, piled forward before replacement loosehead Valentin Welsch broke Connacht’s hearts to score under the posts before Hogg tapped over what turned out to be the winning kick.
Tries: T Darmon, L Akrab, M Rates, A Bernadet, V Welsch. Cons: S Hogg (2), L Coly (2).
Tries: B Murphy, D Tierney-Martin, F Treacy, S Gilbert. Cons: Gilbert (4). Pen: Gilbert.
T Vincent; D Taofifenua, T Darmon, J Piccardo (A Vincent 58), M Rates (J Dulcros 72); S Hogg, L Coly (A Bernadet 60); B Erdocio (V Welsch 55), L Akrab (R Riccitelli 55), L Japaridze (C Tolofua 48); F Verhaeghe (L Gleeson 59), B Chalureau; M Tauleigne, A Becognee (c), A Masibaka.
S Gilbert; S Jennings (S Walsh 72), H West, C Forde, F Treacy (J Devine 64); J Ioane, B Murphy (A Lindner 67); B Bohan (P Dooley 52), D Tierney-Martin (M Victory 64), S Illo (Fiachna Barrett 53); D Murray, J Murphy (N Murray 55); C Prendergast (c), P Boyle (S O'Brien 55), S Jansen.
Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
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