Rugby

Connacht reflect on painful defeat to 14-man Racing 92

Six tries were not enough to beat French side who had Wame Naituvi sent off after 12 minutes

Connacht’s Mack Hansen tries to sprint past Wame Naituvi, whose red card a short time later did not stop Racing 92 from running out winners. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Connacht’s Mack Hansen tries to sprint past Wame Naituvi, whose red card a short time later did not stop Racing 92 from running out winners. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Linley MacKenzie
Sat Apr 12 2025 - 23:00
Challenge Cup quarter-final: Connacht 40 Racing 92 43

Connacht’s exit from Europe forces them to focus exclusively on salvaging their season in the URC.

With Racing 92 prevailing by three points in Saturday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final, Connacht immediately turn their attention to a crucial trip to South Africa to reboot their hopes of making the top eight.

“We have to put on our big-boy pants and dust ourselves off,” said coach Cullie Tucker. “We’re still learning, we’re three points off the next place, six points off Munster who are in fifth, so we’ve got to go over there and get some results.”

Racing 92, led by scrumhalf and man of the match Nolann Le Garrec, showed all their pedigree at Dexcom Stadium despite playing with only 14 men for 67 minutes following a red card to right wing tryscorer Wame Naituvi.

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Their relentless pressure in defence and their strength at both the breakdown and in collisions ensured they prevailed.

“Deserved winners,” admitted Tucker. “I didn’t think we played particularly well. A little bit too inaccurate. We couldn’t get our hands on the ball. They went back to their power game and were very well steered with their halfbacks, who are excellent, and then they brought fire off the bench as well.

“It told in the end. But three points in it, so proud of that. But too inaccurate in the second half.”

Although Connacht showed all their character to come within three by the 80th minute, it was another heartbreaking conclusion to a European campaign and an opportunity lost, as they had produced the perfect start when Finlay Bealham helped Bundee Aki to get over the line and JJ Hanrahan added the extras.

Racing 92 soon replied, outhalf Dan Lancaster delivering the perfect kick for Naituvi to score. But Aki was again instrumental when he helped Connacht surge towards the line before Cian Prendergast put the home side into a 14-5 lead.

Connacht’s Finn Treacy is tackled high by Racing's Wame Naituvi, who was shown a red card for the challenge. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Connacht’s Finn Treacy is tackled high by Racing's Wame Naituvi, who was shown a red card for the challenge. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

Connacht looked to be firmly in control when they were awarded a penalty try following the high tackle that led to Naituvi’s sending-off, with the home side now 21-5 in front. However, the loss of a player somehow galvanised the French side. Successive penalties sent to touch resulted in Diego Escobar going over for a try, and although Lancaster missed the conversion, the French side had turned a corner. Within minutes the man of the match delivered their third try, the gap now down to 21-17.

There was no let-up from either side. Connacht were back down the field with Soon Hugh Gavin helped open up space that allowed Prendergast to touch down in the corner. But once again the French side capitalised immediately from a penalty to touch – their pack power reducing the deficit to 28-24 at half-time.

Within a minute of the restart it was down to one point following a Lancaster penalty. The impetus was with the visitors. Le Garrec soon increased his tally to give Racing the lead for the first time, and when replacement Owen Farrell added a drop goal and two successive penalties, the likelihood of a Connacht recovery had diminished.

Ben Murphy and Cathal Forde scored two late tries, but the home team ran out of time. The French resistance in defence and power in attack proved too much for Connacht.

Connacht: M Hansen; S Jennings, H Gavin, B Aki, F Treacy; JJ Hanrahan, B Murphy; D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham, J Murphy, J Joyce, C Prendergast (C), S Hurley-Langton, S Jansen. Replacements: J Ioane for Treacy (13), C Forde for Ioane (15), M Devine for Gavin (HT), P Dooley for Buckley and O Dowling for Joyce (44), D Tierney-Martin for Heffernan and J Aungier for Bealham (54), P Boyle for Hurley-Langton (63).

Racing 92: S James; W Naituvi, V Habosi, J Tuisova, M Spring (capt); D Lancaster, N Le Garrec; E Ben Arous, D Escobar, D Bamba, B Palu, W Rowlands, M Baudonne, J Kpoku, J Joseph. Replacements: R Couly for Escobar (25) and Escobar for Couly (36), G Cogichashvili for Arous (45), O Farrell for Lancaster (47), H Chavancy for Tuisova (54), S Manyarara for Rowlands and L Leota for Bamba (63), R Couly for Escobar (69), D Taofifenu for Spring (70). Red card: Naituvi, 12 mins. Yellow card: Farrell, 76 mins.

Referee: Christophe Ridley (England).

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