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How Connacht's 140-second Hail Mary play produced the ultimate team try to flatten Gloucester

By Liam Heagney
Skipper Jarrad Butler will be thrilled with how Connacht finished their game against Gloucester (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

An error-ridden match in Galway finishing with a beautiful flourish on Saturday when Connacht stitched together a 19-phase Hail Mary play to snatch a Heineken Champions Cup victory from the jaws of defeat. 

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It was an incredible sweep from their own 22 to score, all 15 of their players handling at some stage in the 140-second play that featured 34 passes and 18 carries to the ruck before Robin Copeland touched down for the converted try that grabbed an unlikely 27-24 win. 

Trailing 13-24 with time running out, Connacht had looked beaten after Gloucester celebrated scoring a bonus point fourth try on 69 minutes.

Even when Shane Delahunt touched down for a converted score on 77 minutes, a few minutes after the Cherry and Whites have been reduced to 14 players due to a sin-binning for Lewis Ludlow, it appeared as it was a consolation score that would only earn the hosts a losing bonus point. 

However, what unfolded after Gloucester launched a restart kick on 78:13 was remarkable as Connacht, who previously had been very prone to a series of sloppy handling errors, were suddenly glue-like on the ball. 

(Continue reading below…)

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It was a catch under the dropping ball by replacement Tom Daly that set in train the sequence that ended with Gloucester distraught and beaten behind their own posts.

Eighty-seven seconds and a dozen phases were retired to Connacht to move possession from their 22 into opposition territory, Copeland popping up on the touchline to carry over the halfway line. 

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From there, another 53 seconds and seven phases were to pass before the try scored, Daly pitching up to handle for his fourth time in the move, taking a two-man tackle at the 22-metre line and offloading out of the contact to send Copeland galloping over.

The score was checked by the officials but was give the all-clear and further salt was rubbed into the Gloucester wound, Conor Fitzgerald landing the conversion to the roars of approval of a delirious home attendance. 

WHAT ALL 15 PLAYERS DID ON THE BALL

Stephen Kerins – 16 passes 

Conor Fitzgerald – 6 passes, 1 carry to ruck

Shane Delahunt – 1 pass, 4 carries to ruck 

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Tom Daly – 3 passes, 1 carry to ruck

Jack Carty – 3 passes

Bundee Aki – 3 carries to ruck

Kyle Godwin – 1 pass, 2 carries to ruck 

Jarrad Butler – 2 carries to ruck

Robin Copeland – 1 carry to ruck, 1 carry to score 

Ultan Dillane – 1 pass

Finlay Bealham – 1 pass, 1 carry to ruck

Denis Buckley – 1 pass, 1 carry to ruck 

John Porch – 1 pass

Eoghan Masterson – 1 carry to ruck

Niall Murray – 1 carry to ruck

WATCH: Follow all the action from the Heineken Champions Cup in the RugbyPass Live Match Centre with commentary, stats, news and more, plus live streaming in some places – click Sign Up Now to see what is available in your region 

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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