Montpellier 33

Connacht 31

By John Fallon in Montpellier

THIS is turning out to be a very tough opening season for Stuart Lancaster in charge of Connacht as they again let a winning hand slip just when it seemed their best display of the season had secured an unlikely but badly needed win at the Septeo Stadium in Montpellier on Sunday.

Connacht were in the driving seat when a fine display built a 31-14 lead with just 14 minutes left, but they lost their way in the closing stages and the strong Montpellier side made them pay, running in three tries to remain top of the pool.

It was another horrible collapse from Connacht who saw all their brilliant hard work shredded in the closing stages. The two bonus points should be enough to secure safe passage to the knockout stages but their first campaign under Lancaster so badly needed a win at this stage.

That will come against a disinterested Montauban this weekend but Montpellier’s scalp would have counted for something two weeks out from their meeting with Leinster to open the completed Dexcom Stadium.

Connacht, with 57% possession, deservedly led 24-14 at the end of an opening half where they made the most of their chances and produced some excellent defensive sets when it mattered most as Montpellier drove at them.

The groundwork was laid with impressive showings from wingers Shane Jennings and Finn Treacy, precision box-kicking from scrum-half Ben Murphy and line-breaks from Josh Ioane which cut holes in the home defence.

Connacht had to twice come from behind in the opening half with centre Thomas Darmon giving Montpellier a perfect start with a try from deep after a Jennings break had sent his captain Cian Prendergast away, but the support was slow in arriving and scrum-half Leo Coly countered from his own 22 to send Darmon through.

Coly converted but only after regaining his composure after he was toppled when referee Morne Ferreira backed into him as he crouched putting the ball on the tee.

A break from Ioane set up Connacht’s opening try after 11 minutes with Treacy doing superbly to pass inside before he was bundled into touch and Murphy supplied the finish by going outside Scottish veteran Stuart Hogg.

Pictured: Connacht scrum half Ben Murphy who scored a try and box-kicked effectively in Sunday’s narrow European Challenge Cup defeat to Montpellier.