VICTORY IN GALWAY: Connacht 22 - 30 Harlequins
By Alanquin
October 21 2012
Unusually, the sun shone in the Galway sky. The wind from the sea was a mere zephyr. The vicious gale and rain that normally accompanies a Harlequins visit to Connacht was mysteriously and thankfully absent. Harlequins duly won the encounter 22 – 30 to perch at the top of their Heineken Cup pool.
It was not, however, an easy victory as the Irish were playing with pace, commitment and physicality and matching Harlequins’ early speed of play. They were ferocious at the breakdown and when an early try gave them the lead after Botica’s first successful penalty their confidence increased.
Over the first half hour Connacht attacked and aided by some excellent long range penalties from Dan Parks built up a healthy lead of 19 – 9, although Botica had replied with two successful kicks to keep Quins in touch.
When they had the opportunity Harlequins mounted their usual offloading attacks with Brown, Easter, Care and Botica prominent in the thrusts. Too often the effort ended with a penalty to Connacht or an unforced error and the fiercely contested defensive effort kept Quins out. But the lest ten minutes of the half turned the match around as Quins scored fifteen points to lead at the interval by 19 – 24.
First, from a scrum on the Connacht twenty-two, Danny Care broke at speed from the base to cross for a try unchallenged. Then a penalty at a scrum set up another Quins’ attack with a break from Brown taking play close to the Connacht line. The ball was moved right and still closer and finally Care burrowed over for another try. Botica added the simple conversion and also another penalty with the last kick of the half.
The second half was a different affair. Although Parks landed an early penalty to narrow Quins lead, that was the end of Connacht’s chances to score. Despite throwing all the bench into the fray over the last quarter the superior pace and fitness of Harlequins held sway. Botica slotted two more penalties to extend the lead and deprive the Irish of a losing bonus point and take his personal tally to 20 points.
Speaking afterwards, ConorO'Shea said: "We are very comfortable to have nine points after our first two pool matches. To have denied both Biarritz and Connacht a losing bonus point is a huge thing.
"We have put ourselves in a very good position, but we learned a lesson two weeks ago in Exeter. If we mess around and don't come with our 'game heads' on, any team can do a job and we want to do a job in six or eight weeks' time (against Zebre)."
"Do you come here and have an easy ride? I have been coming here all my life and you don't," he admitted. When a team base a lot of their season around one match, you see the build-up around it, you feel the crowd and you give them that bit of energy by getting your defensive line wrong in the first try - well, you are going to be in a game."
"We have learned a lot. Ben Botica did well in a hostile environment. You learn more about guys away from home and he was very composed, maybe could have kicked more in the second half, but it's not the DNA of the team."
"Connacht will challenge you and at the end of this pool when Biarritz have to come here, this will be one heck of a hard place for Biarritz to come."
Connacht R Henshaw; T O'Halloran, E Griffin (M Fifita, 65), D McSharry, F Vainikolo; D Parks, K Marmion; D Buckley (B Wilkinson, 64), A Flavin (J Harris-Wright, 64), N White (R Loughney, 68); M Swift (E McKeon, 64), M McCarthy (N Kikora, 76); J Muldoon, W Faloon (J O'Connor, 57), G Naoupu.
Harlequins M Brown; T Williams, M Hopper, J Turner-Hall, S Smith; B Botica, D Care; J Marler, R Buchanan, J Johnson; O Kohn (C Matthews, 73, G Robson; M Fa'asavalu (T Guest, 67) , C Robshaw, N Easter
Referee Jerome Garces.
Attendance 8,500.
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Quins fitness levels are truly impressive. They were relentless in the second half. Ben Botica was very impressive and clearly the back up to NEv. I thought the 8/9/10 axis was outstanding.
Really enjoyed my time in Ireland and having a drink with the Connacht fans in O'Connells in Eyre Square after the game was wonderful. Great to see New Forest Quin & Chiswick Quin in Galway as well and a fabulous time had by all.