“We refused to die!”
Bundee Aki summed up Connacht’s last-gasp victory over Wasps perfectly with four short words after a match that will go down in the annals among the province’s most famous wins.
Shortly after the profound and succinct explanation for how Connacht came back from the absolute brink to record a 20-18 win, Aki let the excitement get the better of him as he dropped an F-bomb during his post-match interview with Sky Sports.
“Wasps, credit to them. They’re fucking great,” Aki said before apologising. “Excuse my language. Sorry mum!”
Potty-mouth Bundee. 😂 pic.twitter.com/QjfmBWoFL9
— Paddy McKenna (@PaddyMcKenna) December 17, 2016
But he was more than entitled to let his emotions run wild as he had just played a starring role in something truly special at the Sportsground.
Just moments earlier, Naulia Dawai wrote himself into the history books as he touched down on his debut with the clock in the red and tied the European Champions Cup clash up at 18-18.
Then Jack Carty stepped forward.
From an awkward angle and with all the pressure of over 8,000 fans staring hopefully in his direction, the out-half made no mistake as he composedly slotted over the extras and sent the stadium into rapturous celebrations.
Ice cool! Jack Carty lands a last-gasp conversion to earn Connacht a vital win over Wasps. #ChampionsCup https://t.co/JhIrKprlRQ
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) December 17, 2016
Supporters stormed the pitch.
Electric!! #CONvWAS #CRLive pic.twitter.com/IeRn19BNaq
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) December 17, 2016
And those that didn’t were just as noisy.
What a night. #bleedGreen pic.twitter.com/Gip2xhroax
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) December 17, 2016
And those watching, be it in the ground or from home, couldn’t quite believe what they had seen as Connacht proved yet again that the mindset of refusing to be beaten can often be enough to get you over the line.
That… And balls of steel.
Welcome to the Carty Party! @connachtrugby
— Laura-Jane Jones (@MissLJJ) December 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/hicksimon/status/810205028258553856
Carty.
Balls like walls.
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) December 17, 2016
Scenes at the Sportsground! pic.twitter.com/DyWgKatV2t
— Conor Heneghan (@conorheneghan1) December 17, 2016
My first time at the sportsground. Picked a good'un @connachtrugby
— Evanne Ní Chuilinn (@EvanneNiC) December 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/DervalORourke/status/810205574214352897
Some boyyyyyyy! @JackCarty1
— Joe Canning (@JoeyCan88) December 17, 2016
