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Handre Pollard reportedly pulled from the second Test
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Connacht handed Challenge Cup thrashing by Billy Vunipola's Montpellier
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Connacht bowed out of the Challenge Cup after suffering a comprehensive 45-22 quarter-final defeat at Montpellier.
Stuart Lancaster’s side bowed out to the two-time champions at Septeo Stadium, where captain Cian Prendergast saw his side well beaten on his 100th appearance.
Sam Gilbert’s penalty had given Connacht the first points of the day, only to be put on the backfoot by a penalty try and bookings to Dylan Tierney-Martin and Shamus Hurley-Langton.
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The former would go on to score a first-half try before Shayne Bolton also saw yellow, with Montpellier entering half-time leading 26-8 as Christopher Tolofua, Mohamed Haouas and Domingo Miotti crossed the line.
Sean Naughton’s converted try temporarily gave Connacht hope early in the second half, but there was to be no comeback.
Auguste Cadot and Ali Price added tries for Montpellier, with replacement Jack Aungier’s scoring a late consolation before Valentin Welsch completed the rout.
Montpellier: 15. Tom Banks, 14. Donovan Taofifenua, 13. Auguste Cadot, 12. Lennox Anyanwu, 11. Jon Echegaray, 10. Domingo Miotti, 9. Ali Price, 1. Baptiste Erdocio, 2. Christopher Tolofua, 3. Mohamed Haouas, 4. Florian Verhaeghe, 5. Tyler DuGuid, 6. Yacouba Camara, 7. Alex Becognee, 8. Billy Vunipola (c)
Replacements: 16. Lyam Akrab, 17. Enzo Forletta, 18. Valentin Welsch, 19. Marco Tauleigne, 20. Lenni Nouchi, 21. Melvyn Rates, 22. Thomas Vincent, 23. Arthur Vincent
Connacht Rugby15. Sam Gilbert, 14. Shayne Bolton, 13. Cathal Forde, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Chay Mullins, 10. Sean Naughton, 9. Matthew Devine, 1. Billy Bohan, 2. Dylan Tierney-Martin, 3. Sam Illo, 4. Joe Joyce, 5. Darragh Murray, 6. Cian Prendergast (c), 7. Shamus Hurley-Langton, 8. Paul Boyle
Replacements:16. Matthew Victory, 17. Peter Dooley, 18. Jack Aungier, 19. Josh Murphy, 20. Sean O’Brien, 21. Ben Murphy, 22. Jack Carty, 23. John Devine
Referee: Christophe Ridley
TMO: Adam Jones
Venue: Septeo Stadium
