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Watch: Giant prop Tietie Tuimauga saves Connacht's skin

By PA
Tietie Tuimauga (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Tietie Tuimauga rescued a vital win for Connacht after they looked to have thrown away victory in a 21-17 triumph at Benetton.

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The Westerners led 14-3 at the end of the first quarter but fell 17-14 behind with 11 minutes to play.

However, 6’4, 124kg prop Tuimauga forced his way over under the posts in the 75th minute for a win that preserves Connacht’s play-off hopes.

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Andy Friend’s men came into the weekend trailing the top eight by nine points and having played a game more than all of their rivals for a place in the end-of-season knock-out.

They got off to a dream start when Cian Prendergast touched down in the first minute and Niall Murray also went over before half-time.

However, Edoardo Padovani hauled Benetton back into the contest early in the second period and Toa Halafihi put the home side in front for the first time before Tuimauga settled matters in Connacht’s favour, with Jack Carty converting all three of the visitors’ tries.

Connacht had the lead after only 52 seconds, with Prendergast finding a gap and then evading Dewaldt Duvenage’s attempted tackle with a neat step to go over next to the posts, affording Carty a straightforward kick.

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Giacomo Da Re got Benetton off the mark with a ninth-minute penalty but Murray then crossed from close range and Carty added the extras.

The home side grew into the match, although a couple of kicks to the corner drew no reward and they reached half-time having made no further inroads.

Benetton did have their first try nine minutes into the second period, however.

A driving maul on the left wing came to a standstill but the hosts showed great hands to spread the ball wide to the right, where Padovani had the time and space to apply the finish.

Da Re reduced the arrears to four points from the tee and Benetton turned up the heat as the penalty count increased, with Connacht eventually losing Prendergast to the sin bin shortly after the hour mark.

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Benetton took the lead for the first time after 69 minutes when Halafihi picked the ball up at the back of a scrum and stretched for the line, with Da Re’s kick making it 17-14.

Manuel Zuliani was yellow-carded as Benetton desperately defended their narrow lead five minutes from time and Connacht took advantage, with Tuimauga muscling over and Carty completing the scoring.

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J
JW 7 minutes ago
England player ratings vs South Africa | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

As has been the way all year, and for all England's play I can remember. I missed a lot of the better years under Eddie though.


Lets have a look at the LQB for the last few games... 41% under 3 sec compared to 56% last week, 47% in the game you felt England best in against NZ, and 56 against Ireland.


That was my impression as well. Dunno if that is a lack of good counterattack ball from the D, forward dominance (Post Contact Meters stats reversed yesterday compared to that fast Ireland game), or some Borthwick scheme, but I think that has been highlighted as Englands best point of difference this year with their attack, more particularly how they target using it in certain areas. So depending on how you look at it, not necessarily the individual players.


You seem to be falling into the same trap as NZs supporters when it comes to Damien McKenzie. That play you highlight Slade in wasn't one of those LQB situations from memory, that was all on the brilliance of Smith. Sure, Slade did his job in that situation, but Smith far exceeded his (though I understand it was a move Sleightholme was calling for). But yeah, it's not always going to be on a platter from your 10 and NZ have been missing that Slade line, in your example, more often than not too. When you go back to Furbank and Feyi-Waboso returns you'll have that threat again. Just need to generate that ball, wait for some of these next Gen forwards to come through etc, the props and injured 6 coming back to the bench. I don't think you can put Earl back to 7, unless he spends the next two years speeding up (which might be good for him because he's getting beat by speed like he's not used to not having his own speed to react anymore).

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