Thoughts on the visit of the Premiership leaders from the fans around the Sportsground and around the province.
Did somebody order a gameplan?
The Connacht faithful turned out in numbers on a crisp Friday evening and going head to head with events in a rival code did little to dampen the enthusiasm this time with the crowd creating a noise level that has been absent thus far this season. Having ended up on the wrong end of a six point margin after coming so agonisingly close to snatching a last gasp victory, one would be forgiven for expecting something of a mood of dejection among the home crowd, but instead most seemed to take heart from the performance and from the clear demonstration that Connacht have the skills and the gameplan to compete with top teams.
Such were the low levels of expectation in the days running up to the game that any pre-match offer of a bonus point would have necessitated reconstructive arm surgery, and so in the Clan Bar after the game there seemed to be an almost paradoxical sense of pleasant surprise at how gutted we all were. Initial frustration at what seemed to be the familiar pattern emerging with the concession of two early tries gave way to a growing optimism as Connacht fought their way back level and should have gone in to the dressing room ahead.
Post match reaction was almost universally positive. There were outstanding performances from Kieran Marmion, who was given the man of the match accolade, from Craig Clarke and the increasingly impressive Jake Heenan. Danie Poolman looked dangerous and Sean Henry showed he had what it takes to play at this level. Such was Sean's commitment that he was still togged out an hour after the final whistle to do an interview for the fans in the Clan Bar, having been diverted for a drugs test on the way.
But the name that seemed to pop up most was Rodney Ah You. To say that he has had his critics would probably be an understatement but if he continues to perform at Friday's level his critics will endure the same fate as the numerous ball carriers who tried to cross his shadow. Add that to a solid scrummaging performance against Mako Vunipola and a couple of big carries and many on the terrace are suddenly optimistic about his future.
However the main source of optimism was the new found willingness to mix the new ball-in-hand attack style that has characterised the opening chapter of the Lam era with a more direct kicking game. Mark McCall and some Sarries players admitted post match that they did not expect Connacht to kick so much, nor indeed did many of the home fans, and this unpredictability was welcomed by many of the Clan.
Of course there were disappointing aspects as well, and nearly everyone wondered aloud at what might have been had the sloppiness that characterised some earlier games not extended ten minutes into this one.
So it seems that this one just about got away, but we certainly saw enough to give us confidence that the next one won't. All those preparing to board the 1625 flight to Bologna on Friday will certainly be hoping that this performance was not a once off and can be repeated in the less intense environment of a lunchtime kick-off in the Parma sun.