Connacht undone by Benetton’s first-half blitz

• Published date: 15 April 2024
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

Backed by a hugely enthusiastic crowd that embraced the occasion, Benetton delivered a confident and controlled display to ensure the “Leonis” were deserving winners

Apart from the first try scored by Connacht within the opening two minutes, the home side led throughout as Connacht struggled against both the heat and Benetton’s accuracy and physicality.

Both sides demonstrated their desire to play rugby in the opening minutes with Connacht benefiting from a penalty in the first minute. Opting for touch, Joe Joyce secured the lineout and the pack, aided by Bundee Aki and Dave Hawkshaw, drove forward before hooker Dave Heffernan, continuing his superb form, secured the try, with JJ Hanrahan adding the extras.

It was short-lived. After a yellow card to Darragh Murray, the home side capitalised, replicating Connacht’s effort with their hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi touching down, with Tomas Albornoz converting. And within 28 minutes Connacht found themselves with a mountain to climb as the home side opened up a 26-7 lead.

Pete Wilkins’s side did not help themselves with a plethora of handling errors in the face of a Benetton’s abrasive defence. And it did not get any better when producing a determined foray into their opponent’s half as a rare overthrown lineout put paid to any reward.

Connacht should have added to their scoreline with what looked like a certain try built by their pack with Heffernan touching down again, but on review it was overturned due to obstruction. Eventually, however, they delivered from a penalty to touch, with Joyce, Heffernan and Bealham making inroads before number eight Paul Boyle forced his way over for a much-needed score, with Hanrahan adding the extras, closing the gap to 26-14.

Patient attack

A 51st-minute try provided the travelling fans with reason to cheer when from a patient attack near the line Bundee Aki ploughed over, narrowing the gap to 10 points as Hanrahan’s conversion was wide.

That was as good as it got for the visitors. The Italians kept the scoreboard ticking over with two penalties and a try through Albornoz, who plundered a ball and chipped over the defence to score. The Connacht replacements added energy to their cause. Conor Oliver gave them some hope when he scored on 68 minutes, and with nothing to lose, Connacht cut loose, but to no avail.

Wilkins says it...