Stormers 43

Connacht 25

By JOHN FALLON

THE Andy Friend era in charge of Connacht came to an end in Cape Town but only after a brave performance which threatened to send the champions packing in a URC semi-final that fluctuated wildly.

The Australian bowed out after five years in charge knowing that the greatest scalp of his time in charge slipped from their grasp.

A possession of 71% in Connacht’s favour illustrated why they will feel this was a golden opportunity let slip, with the Stormers making 179 tackles to 59 for the visitors at DHL Stadium.

But the Stormers showed Connacht how to finish chances, even if the final scoreline flattered them when they crossed for two tries in the closing three minutes to advance to the final for the second year in succession.

“It’s not the way we would have wanted it to end but at 77 minutes we are six points behind and I honestly felt we were going to sneak it,” said Friend.

“It was a tit for tat sort of a game, I think in the end the best team won but what a brilliant occasion for our blokes. For a lot of our fellas, that’s their first time playing on that sort of big stage like that and I thought we ran the defending champions pretty close. I don’t think the scoreline in the end is reflective.”

The relieved facial expression of their coach John Dobson in the stand showed how far they had to dig to see off Connacht, not least when the visitors cut the gap to six points with five minutes remaining.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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