Connacht 21
Tries: Treacy (2), Bolton
Cons: Hanrahan (3)
Edinburgh 31
Tries: Schoeman, Watson, Muncaster, Shiel
Cons: Thompson (3), Healy
Pen: Healy
Edinburgh breathed life into their United Rugby Championship play-off aspirations with a crucial bonus-point victory over Connacht in Galway. The win lifts Edinburgh to ninth in the standings, just two points behind Benetton in sixth, and brings them closer to securing a top-eight finish.
The visitors were in control at half-time, thanks to first-half tries from Pierre Schoeman—who had been named in Andy Farrell’s Lions squad earlier in the week—and Hamish Watson, giving them a 14-point lead. However, Connacht stormed back in the second half to level the scores at 21-21.
The home side’s fight was sparked by Finn Treacy, who crossed for two tries in the opening 11 minutes after the break, and a Shayne Bolton score that saw the match tied up with a JJ Hanrahan conversion. Connacht, with their own slim play-off ambitions, continued to challenge Edinburgh fiercely.
But it was the visitors who found the extra spark late in the game. Ben Muncaster put Edinburgh back in front with a try following a powerful rolling maul, and with the clock ticking down, a piece of individual brilliance sealed the game. Charlie Shiel, on as a replacement, darted down the side of a ruck, showing excellent pace to score under the posts, securing the bonus-point.
In the final minute, Ben Healy slotted a penalty to ensure Edinburgh’s victory, keeping their play-off hopes alive heading into their final match of the regular season against Ulster on Friday. For Connacht, the defeat ended their slim play-off hopes, and they will now focus on finishing the season strong, starting with an away match against Zebre on Saturday.
Line-ups:
Connacht: Cordero, Bolton, Gavin, Aki, Treacy, Hanrahan, Murphy; Buckley, Heffernan, Bealham, Murphy, Murray, Prendergast, Oliver, Jansen.
Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Dooley, Aungier, Dowling, Boyle, Blade, Forde, Hawkshaw.
Edinburgh: Goosen, Graham, Currie, Tuipulotu, Brown, Thompson, Price; Schoeman, Ashman, Rae, Sykes, Skinner, Muncaster, Watson, Bradbury.
Replacements: Harrison, Venter, Sebastian, Young, McConnell, Shiel, Healy, Lang.
Referee: Ben Breakspear.
