Connacht ... 47 Mont de Marsan ... 29 Connacht win 73-41 on aggregate There is an affection in Galway for flanker Johnny O'Connor that transcends normal team support. And it is when he stretches his legs and roughs up the opposition in his dynamic, athletic way that you see him as an openside flanker from which a team can draw inspiration.
O'Connor was again in rampaging form at Crowley Park on Saturday in a match that Connacht had secured by half-time, early enough for coach Steph Nel to give the seven-man bench a run in the second period.
Going into the second leg of this European Challenge Cup tie, the home side had the comfort of a 14-point advantage from last week's 26-12 win in France. Mont de Marsan made eight changes to their starting team and, critically, they also arrived without the most influential player of the first-leg game, Waisale Serevi, who was on international duty with Fiji.
Lacking the outhalf's creativity and general menace, the visitors were destined to struggle and that they did, initially off well laid Connacht plans from lineouts deep in French territory.
There, once again, Rowan Frost performed imperiously, as did John O'Sullivan, both of them bankers in the set-pieces. Frost's first take and neat delivery 15 yards out found Marnus Uijs in motion on the short side and there is very little to stop the galloping hooker with his body in rhino-charge formation.
On 17 minutes, another lineout on the right offered O'Sullivan the platform. Eoin Reddan, Eric Elwood and finally captain Shane Moore all played their well rehearsed roles, Moore swatted off the thin French cover for Connacht's second try and a 14-0 lead.
That, in fact, had Connacht 28 points ahead and Mont de Marsan's game was up. They hit back with a try through Philippe Alaoni but still trailed 20-10 at the break, Elwood again flawless with the boot. He kicked six out of six before being hauled ashore on 45 minutes.
The French gamely contested the match and made it more physical and fractured than Connacht might have liked bearing in mind their Celtic League match away to Glasgow next week, one they must win if they wish to play their quarter-final at Crowley Park. But victory was never an issue and at one stage the home side led 37-10.
Colm Rigney added another try with O'Connor breaking stylishly from his half into the French 22 to release Uijs for his second of the match, Mark McHugh then touching down and converting for the fifth of the game.
Inevitability had long since firmly gripped the match and only an attempted chip to space by Mike Walls, which slapped English referee Roy Maybank on the face and knocked him flat on his back, enlivened a smaller crowd than usual.
Maybank walked away a little humbled but his dignity still intact, indeed much like the French.
SCORING SEQUENCE
5 mins: M Uijs try, Elwood con 7-0
17 mins: S Moore try, Elwood con 14-0
21 mins: P Alaoni try, Tuquet con 14-7
25 mins: Tuquet pen 14-10
29 mins: Elwood pen 17-10
37 mins: Elwood pen 20-10
Half-time: Connacht 20, Mont de Marsan 10
42 mins: C Rigney try, Elwood con 27-10
44 mins: M Uijs try, Elwood con 34-10
52 mins: M McHugh pen 37-10
55 mins: Penalty try, Tuquet con 37-17
57 mins: McHugh pen 40-17
69 mins: A Bouyssie try 40-22
75 mins: McHugh try, con 47-22
78 mins: O Gouillard try, Tuquet con 47-29
CONNACHT: G Duffy; J Norton, D Yapp, S Moore (capt.), W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; R McCormack, M Uijs, P Bracken, D Browne, R Frost, C Rigney, J O'Connor, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: D McFarland for Bracken, J Flannery for Uijs, M McHugh for Elwood (all 45 mins); M Walls for Reddan, T Robinson for Yapp (50 mins); A Maher for Frost (63 mins); P Neville forO'Sullivan (65 mins).
MONT DE MARSAN: O Toulouze; A Bouyssie, S Loubsens, F Dabadie, P Patin; A Vignau Tuquet, N Morales; S Boizot, L Dehez, S Bria, P Lago, G Chasseriau, P Alaoui, C Mathieu, F Labanne.
Referee: R Maybank (England)
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