It was a “must-win” game, and Connacht delivered, ensuring Stuart Lancaster’s side remain in the hunt for the BKT URC quarter-finals.
Their superb 26-7 win over Munster at Dexcom Stadium was the perfect fillip in their bid for the top eight, and although they remain ninth in the table, they have very much closed the gap as they prepare for their final fixture away to Edinburgh next week.
"If you'd have said to me at the start of the day, we'd get a win with a bonus point and play as well as we did, I'd have taken it for sure," Lancaster said. “But there was an inner confidence inside the group that's been building, and obviously we had a good week's training, so I think that all helped.
“But it is now back to zero, and we have to do it all again next week. It is still all to go after.”
The win at Dexcom in the last home match of the season was special for retiring players, particularly long-time Connacht servants Jack Carty and Denis Buckley.
“To do it for the likes of Jack, Denis, and our supporters, it gives us a great sense of belief in the direction we are going,” Lancaster said.
“I think the wind was tough to play into, so kicking options were limited, and in some ways that was good for us because it forced us to start moving the ball.
“[Outhalf] Josh Ioane was excellent, he controlled it really well, so to go in at 19-0 was really good. My overriding message at half-time was about discipline, which probably wasn’t the way it played out with eight penalties against us, so we need to improve that for sure.”
And, he says, it was a relief to get the try at the end through Sean Jansen, which also ensured Connacht bagged a valuable bonus point.
“It was all the one-percenters we did really well - whether it was extra effort in the tackle, our goal-line defence, the winning restart, scraps on the floor. Munster go hard at the breakdown, so you have to work for everything when you play them, and we worked in all the unseen parts of the game really well.”
“And then - it never happens automatically - but a gradual process of pounding the rock means you ultimately get the rewards in the end, but sometimes it takes till the 72nd minute to achieve it.”
That try came courtesy of influential back row player, and player of the match Sean Jansen.
“Munster stuck in there in the first half, but overall, it was a great win.”
Connacht have now achieved seven wins from eight, and long-time servant, outhalf Jack Carty, who retires this season, says the win comes from players trying to improve every day.
“Regardless of where we are in the table, we know we have a job to do next week - win away and then we will see where we are.
“But with the way the team is building week-on-week, how the young lads are invigorating players like myself, it’s a perfect cocktail for something special to happen. It was an incredible day, but it’s now about kicking on and getting a win next week.”
Carty, who retires at the end of the season, says he’s not ready to hang up his boots just yet.
“At the end of the day, I don’t want to finish next week. I want us to to get into Europe and get into the play-offs and go on a run for the next few weeks.”
