IT WAS THE sort of win that Munster perfected during their heyday; away from home, on the ropes, but somehow they stick around ’til the death and snatch victory through sheer graft and determination. This time though, it was Connacht’s time to shine, as they grabbed a late 14-13 win in Edinburgh when it looked like the game had gone away from them.
Willie Faloon was the hero, driving over the line from the back of a maul as the game drew to a close. Whether they deserved the win is irrelevant, because they showed so much will to stay in the contest that they were entitled to a break as the match reached its conclusion.
Connacht were behind 13-6 at the interval after conceding a try right on the stroke of half-time. Edinburgh’s Cornell Du Preez was the beneficiary of a large overlap to cross over in the corner for the opening try of the game to give his team a seven point advantage.
The home side had been in control early on in the game too, after quickly opening up a six-point lead through two Tom Heathcote penalties.
Edinburgh had opportunities to pull away, but as was customary throughout, Connacht’s doggedness stood to them and they eventually levelled the match through two kicks of their own, with Darragh Leader raising the flags.
Leader reduced the gap to four midway through the second half after Edinburgh’s WP Nel was yellow carded and Connacht were also were lucky to escape unscathed from Faloon’s ten minutes in the bin.
But Connacht were able to manufacture one last chance, and after Faloon’s try, they defended resolutely to open their season with back-to-back wins in the sweetest of circumstances.
