Stuart Lancaster's Connacht suffer play-off blow in Lions defeat

Connacht’s play-off hopes were dealt a blow when they went down 33-21 to the Lions in Johannesburg.

The hosts ran in five tries to the Irish side’s three to seal a sixth successive win at Ellis Park and boost their chances of making it to the quarter-finals for the first time.

Right-wing Angelo Davids set the ball rolling with just five minutes gone before centre Henco van Wyk and then flanker Sibabalwe Mahashe went over, fly-half Chris Smith adding all three conversions to give the South Africans a 21-0 half-time advantage.

It was 28-0 within five minutes of the restart after Smith converted winger Erich Cronje’s try, but the visitors finally got on the board when, with Lions prop SJ Kotze having been sent to the bin, replacement Matthew Devine crossed and full-back Sam Gilbert added the two points.

Van Wyk’s second with eight minutes remaining re-established a healthy advantage, but Connacht rallied as the final whistle approached.

Devine touched down for a second time and number eight Paul Boyle followed suit at the death, with Gilbert successful on both occasions to drag their side back to within 12 points.

Fidelity SecureDrive Lions: Quan Horn; Erich Cronje, Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk, Angelo Davids; Chris Smith, Morne van den Berg; SJ Kotze, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye; Ruan Venter, Darrien Landsberg; Siba Mahashe, Batho Hlekani, Francke Horn (C).

Replacements: Morne Brandon, Eddie Davids, Sebastian Lombard, Reinhard Nothnagel, Siba Qoma, JC Pretorius, Nico Steyn, Kelly Mpeku

Connacht Rugby: Sam Gilbert; Harry West, John Devine, Hugh Gavin, Shane Jennings; Jack Carty, Colm Reilly; Peter Dooley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier; Niall Murray, Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast (C), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Matthew Victory, Billy Bohan, Fiachna Barrett, Darragh Murray, Sean Jansen, Matthew Devine, Sean Naughton, Shayne Bolton

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Filippo Russo (FIR, 8th game)
AR 1: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)
AR 2: Jonathan Lottering (SARU)
TMO: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)