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Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby and Perpignan will face off for the first time on Saturday when they clash at The Sportsground in Galway.
- This will be the first meeting between Connacht and Perpignan, and the TOP 14 club have never faced Irish opposition in the Challenge Cup.
- Connacht have won each of their five clashes with French opposition since the beginning of last season, four of those five victories coming by 12+ points.
- Connacht have not lost to a TOP 14 side at the Sportsground in the Challenge Cup since a 12-19 defeat to RC Toulon in the 2010 semi-final, winning seven in a row since then.
- Perpignan are one of just four sides to win a serum against the head this season, while they’re the only one of those four sides to go on and score a try after winning possession in that fashion (v Bordeaux-Begles in Round 2).
💬 | "What's the more important competition? I want to win them both!"
🎥 Andy Friend talks Perpignan and giving players a chance to impress in Saturday's @ERChallengeCup encounter #CONvPER #StrongerInGreen pic.twitter.com/jHqJnSS7q1
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) December 6, 2018
Connacht centre Kyle Godwin scores the late try to clinch victory over Perpignan
A strong opening half saw Connacht make it two wins from three in Pool 3 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup in a 22-10 win over Perpignan.
The Irish side used the strong winds at their backs to good advantage with full-back Darragh Leader and Ireland centre Bundee Aki both crossing for tries, converted by Australian fly-half David Horwitz.
In atrocious conditions play became scrappy but a Horwitz penalty extended Connacht’s advantage before Perpignan replacement hooker Manu Leiataua crossed for a try and full-back Jonathan Bousquet converted to add to an earlier penalty.
Leiataua turned villain as he was sin-binned with ten minutes remaining for dissent and Perpignan lost all momentum as a result.
📸 | @ciankelleher94 is every one of us right now 🥶🌧 #CONvPER pic.twitter.com/GV5NKYDnKV
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) December 8, 2018
Helped by the extra man advantage, Connacht secured the victory when Australian centre Kyle Godwin touched down three minutes from time.
Perpignan, who have just two points from their first three games in the competition, will try to gain revenge with they play hosts to Connacht in France on Friday evening.
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