Micahel Bradley will be looking for the same resolve that ensured Connacht overcame Bourgoin by 23 - 20 when they host Munster on Sunday.
“I think character is a word coaches use and abuse, but this time we stuck at it and the crowd was fantastic. We struggled over the line – it was not with a lot of gusto that we won the game - but it was tough and we are delighted.”
Despite facing the blustery elements, Connacht dominated the opening half, played most of the rugby, and were deserving of their 14-10 half-time lead. However they made hard work of the second 40 minutes, and it took a 76th minute drop goal from replacement outhalf Miah Nikora to secure Connacht’s third semi-final in the competition – their first since losing to Sale in 2005.
“Overall we played the better rugby in the first half,” says Bradley “We got a bit nervous at the start of the second half. The guys were able to dig deep, keep their composure and keep creating opportunities. We had three cracks at the drop goal and the third we got – enough to get us over the line.”
Former French international, outhalf Benjamin Boyet was also fallible with the boot, pushing two early penalty attempts wide before Sean Cronin, No 8 George Naoupu, and Johnny O’Connor started to make their presence felt. All were involved in Connacht’s opening try as they kept the ball tight following a penalty kicked to touch and Connacht’s most capped player Michael Swift barged over the line with Ian Keatley converting.
Connacht continued to control proceedings and three scoring efforts were created in between Bourgoin grabbing their first try when hooker Tone Alefa Kopelani broke from a maul to dive over in the right corner with Boyet adding the extras. However Connacht’s industry was rewarded after George Naoupu’s superb offload in the tackle to Keith Matthews set up the Connacht captain for a 35th minute try. Once again, however, Bourgoin took their limited chances with a penalty before the break, closing the gap to four points.
One would have expected Connacht, with the wind at their backs, to push on and quell any hopes of a Bourgoin revival, but instead Bourgoin took the lead after scrumhalf John Senio grabbed a second try following Boyet’s earlier penalty.
A host of replacements provided Connacht with the renwed impetus, and when Bourgoin’s Boyet was yellow carded for cynical play, Nikora reduced the deficit to three. Thus ensured a nerve-wracking finish. A super break from Troy Nathan and Nikora set up field position and Nikora equalised on 73 minutes before two drop goal attempts. The second on 78 minutes successfully sent Connacht through to a third European semi-final.
Yellow cards: Bourgoin, B Boyet 63m.
Connacht: G Duffy; T Nathan, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan, M Swift, M McCarthy, J Muldoon (capt ), J O'Connor, G Naoupu. Replacements, M Nikora for Keatley (61 ), A Flavin for Cronin, R Morris for Hagan, and B Upton for McCarthy (all 65m ), A Wynne for Carr (67 ), C O’Loughlin for Ta’auso (78 ).
Bourgoin: M Moinot; R Coetzee, W Van Zyl, A Demoulin, JF Coux; B Boyet, J Senio; O Milloud, A Kopelani, TA Tchougong, B Williams, C Basson; J Frier, T Cowley, C Levast, Replacements, N Viazzo for Van Zyl, S Laloo for Demoulin, JP Genevois for Kopelani, B Leonte for Levast (all HT ), P Cardinale for Milloud (71 ), V Pelo for Tchougong (73 ).
Referee: Andrew Small (England ).
