Connacht Stun Saracens in Seven-Try Champions Cup Thriller
Connacht defend an incoming Saracens attack in the second half
FT | European Rugby Champions Cup | 17 Oct
Connacht 45:36 Saracens
By Conor Galligan
After a four-year hiatus from the competition, Connacht marked their return to the Champions Cup with a memorable win against three-time champions Saracens in a thrilling match at the Dexcom Stadium, which featured 13 tries.
Connacht looked like they had a long day ahead of them as the hosts fell 12 points behind in the opening 12 minutes. Saracens centre Sione Va’enuku opened the scoring before winger Noah Caluori finished a sweeping attack. With his father, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell watching from the stands, Owen Farrell managed to convert the first try for the North London side.
However, the Westerners were determined to rise to the occasion and replied with three tries in quick succession. Captain Cian Prendergast crossed first and then set up Cathal Forde to level the scores. Shamus Hurley-Langton finished from a lineout to put Connacht 19-12 ahead at the half an hour mark.
Despite momentum seeming to swing Connacht’s way, Stuart Lancaster’s men faced a setback just before the break as Hurley-Langton was sin-binned for an offside penalty. Saracens made the extra man count as a break from Ben Earl ended with Nick Tompkins going over from close range, bringing both teams level at 19-19 at the interval.
Connacht were still down to 14 when Prendergast scored his second try early in the second half, set up by Bundee Aki. Saracens answered quickly, with Elliot Daly sending Rotimi Segun over after a break down the left. Farrell’s conversion drifted wide, leaving Connacht two points ahead.
Ciarán Frawley, making his home debut after joining from Leinster, got his name on the scoresheet when he finished off an emphatic team effort to extend Connacht’s lead. Va’enuku crossed for his second try to keep Saracens in touch, but replacement scrum-half Caolin Blade responded within three minutes to put his team seven points to the good.
Frawley added a second try to his tally soon after, as the Connacht fly-half swooped up a line-out throw and raced through the backline to score under the post. The try led to Frawley being crowned man of the match on the day and put Connacht 45-31 ahead with just over 15 minutes remaining.
Saracens kept pressing and Daly was able to score one last try just before full time after Prendergast was yellow-carded. Farrell’s final conversion went wide, leaving Saracens without a losing bonus point and sealing a famous Connacht victory.
After the opening round, Connacht are now second in Pool 2 of the Champions Cup with four points, sitting just behind leaders La Rochelle.
Dexcom Stadium will once again play host to Connacht’s next fixture, which will see them take on Italian side Zebre Parma in the United Rugby Championship on Friday, 23 October at 7:45pm
