Stuart Lancaster's Connacht pull off stunning URC shock at Stormers' expense

This match had a potential for a shock. Although Connacht started 9th in the league most of the losses were at the start and they were 5/5 in the URC leading into this. Also, Stormers would expect next weeks match V Glasgow to be the bigger challenge and could potentially be suprised by Connachts fitness and 80 min intensity.

So a top4 team in form. I thought myself that Connacht would have to limit scrums so when Sean Naughton kicked the match start straight into touch and Connacht started handling errors after the first shower I thought they would struggle.

But Billy Bohan and Sam Illo stood up to the Stormers scrum.

You could sense frustration in Stormers that the emotional performance they were hoping for was not materializing but Connacht are a serious team and would have known that Stormers frustration would be part of todays events if things were going their way. At 7-7 Connacht botched a certain try when dropping to score too early ( a foot short) from a driving Maul. Stormers went in 10-7.

Second half was a case of Stormers not being able to put distance into the lead and Connacht being more expansive in the second half and keeping in touch. Connachts firness started to tell later with offloads sticking. When they replied to a Stormers try immediately, they scored next to take the lead and with a couple of minutes left Naughton intercepted a long possession passage to put the match away for a 5 points with Stormers getting none.

Connacht have arguably the best coach in the league in Stuart Lancaster, have big plans for next year but could be a dark horse in the URC this year.

Lions next in Jo-burg!

Stormers didn’t get the win for Chippy Solomon but great respect shown to him before the match by all concerned.

Well done Connacht.

Stormers have no respect for rugby, their fans or their opponents. Pathetic.