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Bayonne will be out for revenge against Connacht after slipping to a late defeat in Galway last weekend. - 10/12/2014 15:15
Bayonne will be out for revenge against Connacht after slipping to a late defeat in Galway last weekend.
The French side looked to be on course for the victory when they led in the second half against Connacht but a late flurry of tries saw the home side win 42-19.
Bayonne have won just one of their last five games in the Challenge Cup, failing to pick up any losing bonus points in any of those four defeats.
They will have to beat a Connacht side who are in excellent form in the competition.
Connacht have won four of their last five games and can boast an enviable record of nine wins out of 10 match-ups against French opposition.
“They are a decent outfit and with these changes they might make this weekend, we are just going to have to lift it,” said Connacht’s Willie Faloon, who scored in last weekend’s win.
Bayonne could recall former New Zealand international Joe Rokocoko who didn’t travel to Ireland last weekend.
Wallaby Mark Chisholm did go to Galway but remained on the bench and he could make the starting line-up this week.
Connacht coach Pat Lam said: “No doubt they'll make changes. We've also got to be careful and use our squad.
“We know it will be a different story in Bayonne. That’s the next task and we won’t be getting carried away.
“We will have to be ruthless or teams like Bayonne are capable of punishing you.”
Connacht will look to continue their excellent Challenge Cup record against French opposition when they host Bayonne in Galway. - 05/12/2014 11:33
Connacht fought back from 11-points down in France to claim a famous 29-27 victory over Bayonne at Stade Jean-Dauger.
This match will go down in European rugby folklore as Caolin Blade scored twice on his first start for his home province.
Connacht trail Exeter Chiefs by two points at the top of Pool Two, with the sides set for a titanic round five clash at the Sportsground.
Saimoni Vaka set the game alight after just five minutes. The ball broke loose as Connacht attacked and the Fijian wing sprinted a full 80 metres to dot down under the posts, Christophe Loustalot converted for an early 7-0 lead.
Miah Nikora cut the deficit to four with a penalty before Matthew Ugalde pounced to score the French side’s second after they put the shove in a five metre Connacht scrum. Loustalot converted again before Caolin Blade replied for the Irish province on his first start. Darragh Leader broke free in midfield and Blade was on-hand to score.
Both kickers traded penalties, but Nikora split the uprights just before the break to make it 17-16. The hosts started the second-half much like the first and struck within two minutes. Try-scorer Ugalde turned provider as his offload sent Pierre Sayers over the try line.
Loustalot converted and added another penalty to put his side 11-points clear. Two Nikora penalties pulled it back to 27-22 with 13 minutes remaining and the comeback was on.
Connacht bided their time and with five minutes remaining they were deep in Bayonne territory. They nailed the lineout and Blade was over for his second try on his first Challenge Cup start to level the scores at 27-all.
The ever-reliable boot of Nikora nailed the conversion to snatch victory at Stade Jean-Dauger.
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