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Connacht, in suffering another narrow defeat - this time against Munster in Thomond Park - had to be content with a losing bonus point. “Obviously very disappointed”, says head coach Stuart Lancaster, particularly having played well in the first half. “We went in 15-12 at half-time, could have been more if we had slotted a couple of conversions, and obviously the intercept was a big moment. “We had a lot of adversity to deal with injuries - four guys going off early in the game - and I had used up the bench when it was not our intention to use any.” Always a difficult venue to get a win, he says there is no consolation in a single bonus point. "We need to use the break well now to work hard, improve, and attack the next bloc which is 10 games straight.” Five young academy players were involved in the fixture with Harry West making his debut, and Sean Naughton coming on as a replacement. And Connacht had taken the lead in Thomond Park just before the break. Taking advantage of a penalty to touch, it was another opportunity for the visitors to score, and they piled on the pressure. Sean Jansen, Sam Illo and Jordan Duggan added their weight, but it was captain Paul Boyle who was able to ground the ball, giving Lancaster’s men the half-time lead, with replacement Sean Naughton adding the extras. Although Connacht had dominated attacking possession, Munster enjoyed better control, and through their backs, they looked the more likely to score. They made their early domination count, and with the midfield making inroads, Jack O’Donoghue capitalised with the opening try after 15 minutes, unconverted. However, within four minutes Connacht had wrested possession and keeping the ball in hand, Hugh Gavin played his part before Josh Ioane delivered to Ralston who scored in the corner, Cathal Forde’s conversion off target. Connacht continued to enjoy possession, and eventually took advantage with a second try which Ralston bagged after good work from Sam Illo, Paul Boyle, Josh Murphy and Cathal Forde in the lead up. But as expected, Munster made life difficult for Connacht in both defence and attack. By the 32nd minute former Connacht player Diarmuid Kilgallen scored from an intercept, and JJ Hanrahan’s conversion put the home side 12-10 up at the break. Connacht, however, were unable to take advantage when Josh Ioane kicked his side back into the scoring zone, but they could not deliver on two occasions. Connacht took up where they left off in the second half with Paul Boyle adding the third try, but that was as good as it got. The home side grabbed control, made the visitors work hard in defence, but denied them attacking possession, and Munster’s 67th minute try from Jack O’Donoghue was enough for the home side to take the spoils. It was a disappointing result for Lancaster’s side. “It is a very hard place to get a win, but there is no consolation to get a point,” the Connacht head coach says. “We need to use the break well now to work hard, improve, and attack the next bloc which is 10 games straight.” “My job coming in was to learn about the players and I feel I have learned a lot, I have learned about their character and spirit and I don’t think there are any issues there. “We have a tremendous group who work hard for each other and overall the foundations we are building are strong, so I am confident because we have some good players away with Ireland, a couple injured, and some very good young players coming through.” Munster Rugby: Shane Daly, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams, JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan; Michael Milne, Lee Barron, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue (CAPT ), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes Replacements: Shay McCarthy for Abrahams (15m ), Ruadhan Quinn for Hodnett (46m ), Shay Niall Scannell for Barron (55m - 64m ) ), Jeremy Loughman for Milne (55m ), Ronan Foxe for Ruyan (64m ), Evan O’Connell for Wicherly (58m ), Jake O’Riordan for Coughlan (62m ), Tony Butler for Hanrahan (62m ). Connacht Rugby: Harry West, Byron Ralston, Hugh Gavin, Cathal Forde, Finn Treacy, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy, Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Sam Illo, Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray, Josh Murphy, Paul Boyle (CAPT ), Sean Jansen Replacements: Sean Naughton for Tracey (9m ), N Murray for Joyce (33m ), Sean O'Brien for Jansen (41m ), M Devine for Ralston (42m ), Dylan Tierney-Martin for Heffernan (62 ), Peter Dooley for Duggan and Fiachna Barrett for Illo(both 49m ), David O’Connor for Boyle (70m ).
