Disappointing Connacht to concentrate on Challenge Cup after Lyon hold on

By JOHN FALLON

Lyon………………. 34pts

Tries: Abrahams 19, 74 Tchaptchet 21, Guillard 52

Conversions: Jackson 15, 22, 53; Berdeu 75

Penalties: Jackson 27, 35

Connacht ……….20pts

Tries: Jansen 8, Prendergast 38, McElroy 45

Conversions: Hanrahan 46

Penalties: Hanrahan 68

CONNACHT coach Pete Wilkins is hoping they can produce a big display on Friday when Pat Lam returns to the Sportsground and claim a place in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup.

Connacht's faint Champions Cup hopes were blown away when they failed to take a couple of windows of opportunity at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland.

“It's frustrating because the bits where we put phases together and the bits where we had attacking ball, we looked dangerous. The game was there for the taking and it feels like an opportunity missed, but we need to reassess and get ready for next week,” said Wilkins.

Their Challenge Cup hopes are now dependent on them getting a big win over a Bristol Bears side who also need maximum points to maintain interest in qualifying for the Champions Cup knockout stages.

Connacht only got into the Lyon twice in the first half but they made it count both times and were still in contention when they went in trailing 20-10 after the home side enjoyed 73 per cent territory.

They struck first when centre Tom Daly timed his pass to perfection in midfield and No.8 Sean Jansen showed remarkable pace from inside his own half, stepping winger Thaakir Abrahams on his way to scoring in the right corner.

However, with their set-piece struggling Connacht struggled to build and with 5ft 7in full-back Alexandre Tchaptchet causing untold trouble, Lyon took over.

They got back on level terms after 14 minutes when a break from Tchaptchet eventually ended several phases later with Abrahams scoring and Paddy Jackson converting.

Former French U-20 Tchaptchet got their second try after 21 minutes when he tapped and went after sustained pressure, with Jackson again converting to make it 14-5.

The fragility of the Lyon defence was again exposed when Connacht managed to get into the 22 with good work from Jansen and Jack Carty popped a pass wide for Cian Prendergast to score.

Connacht got on top after the restart and got right back in contention when hooker Tadhg McElroy got over after a good lineout take from Darragh Murray, with Hanrahan converting to cut the gap to 20-17. But inevitably the pressure paid off for Lyon and No.8 Mickael Guillard got over after 52 minutes, with Jackson's third conversion making it 27-17.

Hanrahan cut the gap to seven after 68 minutes but Abrahams ended that faint hope six minutes from time to secure the bonus point and condemn Connacht to another disappointing defeat.