It was a night to forget for Connacht in the Sportsground, as they were battered and outclassed by Bordeaux 41-5 in the Champions Cup opener. Ahead of kickoff, there were all the ingredients for a famous European night in the west of Ireland. The wind was howling, the rain had been falling, but after Bordeaux weathered a strong Connacht start, they absolutely tore into Connacht.
It is a hugely worrying result considering the context of the match: it was Pete Wilkins first European game as Connacht coach, and came just 6 days after his team were tantalisingly close to beating Leinster on the same pitch.
The score was only 12-5 to the French side at the half, but during halftime analysis, Donncha O'Callaghan on TNT Sports was clearly livid with Connacht.
The former Munster lock has the reputation for being a mild-mannered and jocular pundit, but he did not hold back with his criticism.
We've got exactly what we expected from Bordeaux, offloading in the tackle, some incredible players doing some incredible stuff
But from an Irish point of view, Connacht have been so disappointing. Pete Wilkins is a lovely man but he needs to lose it inside that dressing room. Small little things at the moment, throwing the ball into touch, not looking after the ball, losing lineouts. I came here hoping that Connacht were starved of European rugby. They're top table now and you would not think it. I promise you Sarah, some of the performances, the likes of Buccaneers and Galwegians tomorrow would have greater desire than what we've seen out of Connacht. I don't like to be harsh on them, but sometimes we leave them off. That first half was not acceptable.
When presenter Sarra Elgan put it to him that Connacht had more a strong start, Donncha O'Callaghan countered by saying Connacht's set piece was a 'joke'.
That's what I was hoping, that they'd build on the momentum of a good start. They got into the game really early on. You can use the excuses, Mack Hansen going off injured, the bigger men, but they're excuses for this team. The individual errors are not good enough for Connacht at the moment. Their set piece is a joke. The line out they can't get any return of it, and it's really hurting them.
I know I'm blinkered, looking at it with with Irish eyes and I don't want to take anything away from Bordeaux but they're thinking we can really open it out in this second half.
O'Callaghan was spot on there: Bordeaux won the second half 29-0.
Wilkins echoes Donncha O'Callaghan's comments
Donncha O'Callaghan's statements were echoed by Wilkins in his post-match interview.
"You don’t want it to get to that stage, but I think it was more the type of performance that disappointed me more so than the scoreline, particularly in the first half.
The final score was embarrassing and Connacht will now head to Hendon to play Owen Farrell and Saracens in a week's time. They'll likely do so with Mack Hansen, who agitated the foot injury he picked up at the World Cup.
It does not get any easier for Pete Wilkins and company.
