Thoughts on the Treviso trip from the fans in the Dáil Bar and around the province.
An overwhelmingly positive outing, which, despite a few spillages in contact and some minor injuries that are sure to clear up, shows increasing signs of a group really starting to click and augers well for the rest of the season.
It's just a pity that events in Treviso weren't as positively recieved as those in the Dáil Bar on Friday night.
The Connacht Clan's new base of operations for away games saw its official unveiling for the Treviso game with a lively turnout. Alas it didn't take long for some of those in attendance to wonder if the sixty inch screens might be made a little smaller, as Connacht served up a poor performance and another substantial defeat.
Many of the criticisms levelled at the earlier performances resurfaced, with inadequate defence and basic errors to the fore. The over-eagerness to attack from deep when the ball seemed to scream to have a boot put through it also seemed once again evident. Positives seemed hard to come by, except those that came with a creamy head or a side of chips.
While injuries and sinbinnings played a part, and there were some interesting calls from the referee and TMO, these more or less cancelled each other out, with Treviso awarded a try after a Connacht blunder even though they initially appeared to have gotten away with it as replays seemed to show a knock on, while shortly after it looked as if the same TMO denied the hosts a perfectly good try.
The shape of the team also raised eyebrows among the fans, with Danie Poolman, so impressive on the wing the last time out, not as effective at 13.
There were of course some positives, with Rodney Ah You (Irish qualified as of this month) performing admirably on both sides of the scrum after both Ronan Loughney and Nathan White were forced to retire. He may well be called into Heineken Cup action on Friday as the prop resources are stretched thin. Fellow Kiwis Jake Heenan and Craig Clarke were also adjudged to have had decent games.
It may have been the day the Seanad was granted a stay of execution, but no such leniency was evident in the Dáil as Treviso's impressive home record continued ahead of the visit of Montpellier at the weekend.
Connacht will have no such momentum as they welcome the Premiership's unbeaten leaders, Saracens. Tickets are selling fast, with a big home crowd expected. And they will be hoping for a serious ace to be pulled out of Pat Lam's sleeve.
