It was a display of pride and passion from the men of Connacht as they stepped into the lions den of Stade Ernest Wallon for this pool 6 round 5 match against Toulouse.

Connacht started the brighter of the 2 sides as Eric Elwood?s men showed some superb imagination culminating in a crossfield kick from Niall O?Connor which captain Gavin Duffy almost gathered for what would have been a rip-roo?aring opening score. Connacht kept the pressure on their French hosts and after 4 minutes Niall O?Connor stepped up for his first shot at goal. The effort glanced the upright and Connacht were unlucky not to gather the rebound but O?Connor made amends 10 minutes later scoring what turned out to be Connacht?s only points of the match.

 Despite attacking the Toulouse line with everything they had, from hard running lines from the forwards to deft up and unders from the backs, Connacht couldn?t break down the Toulouse defence line and a tries from winger Timoci Matanavou and fullback Maxime Medard separated the 2 sides at half time.

Louis Picamoles picked the ball from the base of a scrum 5m out from the Connacht line and crashed over for Toulouse?s 3 try and after 68 minutes Matanavou finished off a slick backine move to secure the bonus point for the home side.

Though the scoreline may not reflect it this was a vastly improved performance from Connacht and all involved will look forward to the visit of Harlequins to the Sportsground next Friday. Tickets are on sale now on www.ticketmaster.ie or from the Connacht Rugby offices on College Rd.

Connacht:

Gavin Duffy, Fetu?u Vainikolo, Dave McSharry, Kyle Tonetti, Tiernan O?Halloran, Niall O?Connor, Paul O?Donohoe, Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Dylan Rogers, Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa, George Naoupu

Replacements:

Ethienne Reynecke, Denis Buckley, Stewart Maguire, Mick Kearney, Eoin McKeon, Dave Moor, Miah Nikora, Henry Fa?afili

Toulouse:

Maxime Medard, Vincent Clerc, Yann David, Florian Fritz, Timoci Matanavou, Luke McAlister, Luke Burgess, G

Connacht Rugby have announced the team that will face Toulouse this Saturday (Stade Ernest Wallon 14/01/2012 kick-off 16.40 local time)

Paul O?Donohoe comes into the side at scrum-half, Ray Ofisa at flanker and Niall O?Connor starts at outhalf in the 3 changes from last weeks team.

Dylan Rogers, Adrian Flavin and Brett Wilkinson renew their partnership up front with Michael Swift and Mike McCarthy in the engine room of the scrum. John Muldoon returns to blindside flanker with Samoan Ray Ofisa at openside and big George Naoupu at 8.

Paul O?Donohoe replaces the injured Frank Murphy at 9, Murphy underwent surgery on his groin earlier this week and is set to miss the next 3 weeks. Niall O?Connor will orchestrate the backline with the youthful talents of Dave McSharry and Kyle Tonetti in the centre backed up by Tiernan O?Halloran, Fetu?u Vainikolo and captain Gavin Duffy at fullback.

Connacht XV to face Toulouse (Stade Ernest Wallon 14/01/2012 kick-off 16.40 local time)

15 Gavin Duffy (C) 

14 Fetu'u Vainikolo

13 Kyle Tonetti

12 Dave McSharry

11 Tiernan O'Halloran

10 Niall O?Connor

09 Paul O?Donohoe

01 Brett Wilkinson

02 Adrian Flavin

03 Dylan Rogers

04 Michael Swift

05 Mike McCarthy

06 John Muldoon

07 Ray Ofisa

08 George Naoupu

16 Ethienne Reynecke

17 Denis Buckley

18 Stewart Maguire

19 Mick Kearney

20 Eoin McKeon

21 Dave Moore

22 Miah Nikora

23 Henry Fa'afili

Connacht players shine in U18 friendly clash

Monivea’s Caolin Blade shone for the Club side and for the schools side Saba Meunargia at tighthead and lock Sean O’Brien had outstanding performances ahead of the FIRA AER European Championships and the U18 Clubs Internationals later on this year.

From www.irishrugby.ie

The Ireland Under-18 Schools team emerged as 15-5 victors over the Ireland Under-18 Clubs side at Merrion Road on Friday, aided by tries from centre Rory O'Loughlin and replacement winger David Busby.

IRELAND UNDER-18 SCHOOLS XV 15 IRELAND UNDER-18 CLUBS XV 5, Merrion Road, Wanderers FC

Scorers: Ireland U-18 Schools: Tries: Rory O'Loughlin, David Busby; Con: Gearóid Lyons; Pen: Stephen O'Neill
Ireland U-18 Clubs: Try: Adrian Enright

Terry McMaster's Schools side took the spoils after a well-contested encounter played in wet conditions at the home of Wanderers FC.

The winners were that bit sharper with ball in hand, the attacking highlight coming when Rory O'Loughlin finished off a terrific move in the left corner following some quick and accurate passing.

Before that O'Loughlin's centre partner Stephen O'Neill had opened the scoring with a 10th minute penalty and while the forward exchanges were generally even, the Schools' attack carried more thrust.

Out-half Bobby Holland was a key cog in a 52nd minute break which led to their second try. Crisp passing and a series of decoy runs created the space out wide on the right for replacement winger David Busby to dart through and touch down.

The conversion from the touchline was knocked over impressively by Gearóid Lyons, another of the Schools outfit's replacements.

Credit to the Clubs players, they responded strongly in the closing stages of the game and following a good spell of pressure up front, they split the defence to send replacement winger Adrian Enright over for an unconverted try.

Both management teams will have garnered much from this festive runout for their young players, as well as the training camps where foundations have been laid for the upcoming international campaigns.

Next up for the Ireland Under-18 Clubs team is a clash with their Italian counterparts in Rovigo on Saturday, February 18, while the Schools players are gearing up for their spring defence of the FIRA-AER U-18 European title.

IRELAND U-18 SCHOOLS: Cormac O'Donnell (St. Munchin's); Ian Fitzpatrick (King's Hospital), Rory O'Loughlin (St.. Michael's College), Stephen O'Neill (Terenure College), Greg O'Shea (Crescent College); Bobby Holland (St. Michael's College), Ryan Foley (CBC Cork); Charlie Slowey (CBC Cork), Max Abbott (PBC Cork), Saba Meunargia (Marist College), Ross Molony (St. Michael's College), Sean O'Brien (CC Roscrea), Dan Leavy (St. Michael's College), Jack O'Neill (Castleknock College), Peadar Timmins (Clongowes Wood College).

Replacements used: David Busby (Portadown College) for O'Shea, Billy Dardis (Terenure College) for O'Donnell (both half-time), Eoghan McKeever (CBC Monkstown) for Meunargia (37), Shane Delahunt (Kilkenny College) for Slowey (39), Shane Boyle (Sligo GS) for O'Brien (45), Harrison Brewer (Terenure College) for J O'Neill (47), Gearóid Lyons (Crescent College) for S O'Neill (48), Dylan McGagh (Rockwell College) for Foley, Sonny Dwyer (Rockwell College) for Leavy, Ben Alexander (RBAI) for Timmins (all 57), Dylan Donnellan (Clongowes Wood College) for Abbott (59).

IRELAND U-18 CLUBS: Alex Webb (Exiles); James O'Sullivan (Whitgift), Adam Byrne (Naas), Seamus Keating (Dungarvan), Jim White (Enniscorthy); Fergal Cleary (Navan), Caolin Blade (Monivea); Peter Dooley (Birr), Paul O'Donnell (Galwegians), Jacob Walsh (Ballinasloe), John Madigan (Charleville), Russell Blair (Ballymoney), Frankie Taggart (Whitgift), Joe Bercis (Exiles), Jack O'Donohue (Waterpark).

Replacements used: Sean O'Hagan (Exiles) for Keating, Stephen Dalton (Exiles) for Walsh (both 29 mins), Adrian Enright (Abbeyfeale) for White, Scott Flannagan (Buccaneers) for O'Donnell, Reuben Pepperhobbs (Westport) for Webb (all half-time), Killian Sweeney (Malahide) for Bercis (46), Killian O'Keeffe (Crosshaven) for Blade (51), Brian Cunningham (Navan) for Dooley (61).

Referee: Dermot Blake (IRFU)

As Connacht travel off to the South of France we take a trip down memory lane and recall the Province beating Bordeaux-Begles in 1997 and becoming the 1st Irish team to win in France:

Rugby History as Connacht win in France

Brodeaux-Begles 9 – 15 Connacht Rugby

Sat 20/09/1997 – European Challenge Cup – Stade Andre Moga

Connacht made rugby history by becoming the first Irish team to win on French soil, overturning Bordeaux-Begles 15 points to 9 in the European Challenge Cup. Bordeaux-Begles were led out that day by their captain Olivier Brouzet, the towering 6’7 lock who featured over 70 times for France (including 3 World Cups). Connacht were not shy of talent either and the starting XV boasted a number of Irish Internationals including Nicky Barry, Pat Duignan, Eric Elwood and Conor McGuinness as well as Ireland 7’s star William ‘Billy’ Mulcahy and the Ireland ‘A’ capped Mervyn Murphy. Connacht were captained by Waikato legend Mark McConnell who was joined by his former team-mate Junior Charlie at flanker.

Connacht:

Willie Ruane, Nicky Barry, Pat Duignan, Mervyn Murphy, Nigel Carolan, Eric Elwood, Conor McGuinness, John Maher, William Mulcahy, Michael Finlay, Graham Heaslip, Mark McConnell (C), Junior Charlie, Shane McEntee, Barry Gavin

Replacements:

Alan Reddan, Ray Ward, Martin Cahill, Bernard Jackman, Diarmuid Reddan, Simon Allnutt, Michael O’Neill

Coach: Warren Gatland Assistant Coach: Tommy Conneely Manager: Seamus King

Bordeaux-Begles:

Pascal Fauthoux, Jean-Marc Souverbie, Sebastien Loubsens, Thomas Ossard, Robbie MacDonald, Vincent Etcheto, Guy Accoceberry, Patrice Collazo, Nicolas Escouteloupe, Scott Palmer, Andre Berthozat, Olivier Brouzet (C), Sebastien Conchy, Shristphe Dongieu, Jeam-Jacques Alibert

Replacements:

Gillies Doyamboure, Laurent Dehez, Olivier Sougens, Yann Lemeur, Christophe Jean-Pierre

1997/98 European Challenge Cup Pool 4 Results

09/09/97             Connacht                       43    v          13       N’Hampton Saints

14/09/97             Nice                               20    v          16       Connacht

20/09/97             Bordeaux-Begles           9     v          15       Connacht

27/09/97             Connacht                     28     v          25       Nice

04/10/97             Connacht                     22     v          15       Bordeaux Begles

11/10/97             N’Hampton Saints        15     v          20       Connacht

08/11/97    QF   Agen                            40     v          27       Connacht