RUGBY: Connacht - 3 South Africa - 18:Pride and honour may not always be reflected on the scoresheet but Connacht had buckets full of it last evening despite going down to the visiting Springboks.
A capacity crowd at the Galway Sportsground came expecting to see the Springboks' World Cup squad run rampant against the Irish cinderella province. But the predicted try feast never materialised against a Connacht outfit that brimmed with passion and growing confidence.
South Africa never cut loose, even with the introduction of the Boks second-highest try scorer, Bryan Habana.
Their pack did the business in the early stages and their sheer physicality caused Connacht huge problems at the breakdown, particularly to the home outfit's midfield axis, but they crossed the white chalk only twice - at the start of the second half and near the end.
The Boks were able to turn over ball at crucial times, frequently stymying Connacht's attacks, but as the game progressed it was Connacht who looked the livelier although never having the finishing power to score a richly deserved try.
"A wake-up call," said Jake White. "The reality is these games are really needed for this group of players. It's a great lesson if players expect to play the likes of Tonga in the World Cup."
Connacht had the benefit of the strong wind in the first half, but when they got their primary possession right after misfiring early lineouts, they shaded the second 20 minutes both territorially and in possession.
A nervy start by Connacht had them on the back foot from the start and South Africa were quick to capitalise when centre Butch James slotted the easy third-minute penalty.
However, the expected onslaught never came. As expected it was characterised by Connacht's immense defensive effort, but White will not be happy that his backline failed to find any great rhythm.
On three occasions they were halted by Connacht defenders, Peter Durkan and Mel Deane to the fore in the early exchanges. But despite South Africa's total superiority at the breakdown where they forced turnover after turnover, they failed to utilise the possession.
Four times the Boks found space on the left with some expansive play, but each time the move broke down through a Connacht defender or a handling error.
It took some 20 minutes before Connacht penetrated their opponents' 22 and a half break from outhalf Tim Donnelly set up a surge from Ofisa Treviranus and Dave Gannon bringing Connacht within five yards of the line before they were penalised.
Donnelly did attempt two drop goals on the stroke of half-time, but they were wide as was a penalty kick from half-way.
The opening try when it came - four minutes after the restart - was unspectacular. The forwards did the business with first phase, but it was James, who stepped inside Adrian Flavin's tackle when the Connacht backline defence was stretched, who laid the platform for Ashwin Willemse to cross.
The visitors looked like opening up play, particularly on the counterattack, but a yellow card to hooker Bismark du Plessis, the concession of a second penalty in quick succession, and James's failure to convert a 57th-minute penalty broke the momentum. Seven minutes later Andy Dunne raised the roof with a 64th-minute penalty.
The Boks did get in for a second try thanks to a great offload from a lineout and when Gary Botha found John Botha in support, the substitute prop had the strength to stretch over the line. When James added a 71st-minute penalty, the Boks had done enough to merit the win.
CONNACHT: P Durkan; O Treviranus, M Deane, A Wynne, J Hearty; T Donnelly, C McPhillips; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, B McGovern, D Gannon, A Farley (cpt), J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: J O'Connor for R Ofisa, M McCarthy for Muldoon (47m), A Dunne for Donnelly (49m), M Swift for Farley (57m), J Lyne for Wilkinson (60m), J Muldoon for Rigney (63m), T Tierney for McPhillips (66m), J Merrigan for Flavin (66m), A Farley for Gannon (69m), C McPhillips for O Treviranus (75m).
SOUTH AFRICA: JP Pietersen, A Ndungane, W Murray, B James, AWillemse, R Pienaar, R Januarie, G Steenkamp, B du Plessis, BJ Botha, A van den Berg, J Muller, W van Heerden, D Rossouw, B Skinstad. Replacements: B Habana for Ndungane (32m), A Pretorius for Willemse (53m), G Botha for BJ Botha and J Cronje for Skinstad (62m).
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland).
