Ah Jaysus Connacht.
The entire nation – even Leinster when they got over Murrayfield – was delighted when Connacht became Guinness PRO12 champions last season.
Pat Lam’s men were a revelation as they shocked the big boys and played with a fearless brand of attacking, run it from everywhere rugby. Lam spoke of 2016/17 not being a once-off but of a legacy being set that would sustain Connacht for years to come.
A little under 12 months later and the Westerners have handed over their title in callow fashion. Beaten by Zebre in Italy, thumped by Scarlets in Galway and cut to ribbons by Munster in Limerick, the past month has been a chastening experience.
Connacht had a Champions Cup playoff teed up before they came out to face a Munster team gunning for top spot. Few expected them to turn Munster over at Thomond Park for the second season running but no-one would have predicted a 50-14 pasting.
The visitors turned the ball over 19 times, were hesitant in possession, conceded needless penalties and missed a whopping 29 tackles. Their tackle success rate was an awful 64%.
There was a hint of fight in the second half, with Jack Carty teaming up with Cian Kelleher for a fine try. Naulia Dawai powered over for a score of his own – to make it 38-12 after 63 minutes – before acting the goat.
As the try was confirmed, Dawai sought out the TV cameras for a post-try celebration.
Credit: TG4 (PRO12)
It was absolutely needless. Totally pointless. Borderline shameless.
Maybe you shouldn't be celebrating to the TV cameras when your team are 26 points back… pic.twitter.com/ZTSb5C4GEl
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) May 6, 2017
As if to ram home how inadvisable his actions were, Connacht failed to gather the restart and, within 90 seconds, Andrew Conway was jigging over for another Munster score.
Conor Oliver added another, at the death, and Connacht had conceded 50 points for the first time this season.
Not much to celebrate there.
Pat Lam and his coaching staff, and senior players, have a lot of work to do before the likely playoff with Northampton Saints.
