No Clan Stand, no problem.
Connacht overturned a 20-point half-time deficit to ensure their first home game of the BKT URC season ended with an incredible five-try victory over the Sharks at the Dexcom Stadium.
After a lightning fast start, during which man of the match Dave Heffernan scored the first of two tries, Connacht fell badly off the pace and conceded 27 points in a 16-minute spell to trail the Sharks, missing their Springboks players who were at the Rugby Championship, by 20 at the break.
But whatever head coach Pete Wilkins said at half-time had the desired effect and, except for the last kick of the game, which earned the visitors a losing bonus point, it was only Connacht who troubled the scoreboard in the second period.
Cathal Forde scored a superb effort and Shane Jennings ran home after intercepting, while Heffernan and Oísin Dowling claimed close-range efforts in a relentless 40 minutes.
After losing a ten-try thriller last weekend to Munster, another defeat would have hit hard but the nature of the comeback will make the victory extra sweet.
The home side totally dominated the opening quarter and Heffernan's fourth-minute try was the least they could have expected in return.
The try came from a lineout maul, which came off the back of a neat midfield move between Forde and Piers O'Connor.
With Ben Murphy supplying quick ball from the breakdown, Santi Cordeo, Mack Hansen and Josh Ioane had time to show their skills, while the Sharks, on their first URC outing of the season, looked cold and their high fielding was off.
Neither could they sort out their scrum but two poor penalty concessions by Connacht allowed the Sharks to kick their way into the Connacht 22.
From there, former Munster and Leinster man Jason Jenkins took a clean lineout ball and scrum-half Bradley Davids found centre Andre Esterhuizen on the burst.
It was a nice line but the Connacht defence parted far too easily and Siya Masuku's conversion levelled the scores in the 23rd minute.
The Connacht restart went straight out and Jordan Hendrikse, who kicked a long-distance winner for Sharks in last weekend's Currie Cup final, landed a penalty from halfway when the referee adjudged Finlay Bealham to have collapsed the scrum.
Moments later they had their second try after more indecision in the Connacht backfield ended with a goalline drop out.
The South Africans played it wide quickly and only required a couple of recycles before 18-cap Springbok Esterhuizen barged over again, while Masuku added the extras.
Connacht were looking ragged, went offside in defence and Hendrikse found the target, on the rare occasion there was no wind blowing in off the Atlantic, from 63 metres out.
Wilkins' side were desperate for the half-time whistle but there was more pain to come. Cordero dropped a high ball under no pressure and the Sharks smelled blood, running back at pace.
Eventually Connacht conceded a penalty in the scramble and soon after former Munster lock Gerbrandt Grobler bashed over for another converted try that left the half-time score 27-7 and the 2016 champions with a mountain to climb.
Hansen's quick reactions at the breakdown prevented a promising Sharks attack at the start of the second half, with David Hawkshaw on for Ioane, and that intervention paved the way for Connacht to gain a foothold in the contest.
Forde's delicate chip was collected by the Ireland wing and the centre (above) collected the return pass and raced in for a try he converted himself.
That lifted the crowd at the stadium, missing one side which is under construction, and Connacht hit for their third try after winning a scrum penalty.
It was the same well-worked lineout maul with the same player, Heffernan, dashing over.
Sharks made their way into the 22 and looked likely to strike but replacement scrum-half Tian Meyer had his pass picked off by Jennings (above) who won a brilliant race to the line from over 70 metres out.
Forde's conversion had the hosts just a point behind with more than a quarter of the game to play.
It was frantic: Sharks kicked a touchline penalty dead and Connacht were soon up the field piling the pressure on.
Sam Illo, playing a penalty advantage, was denied after a TMO intervention but replacement Dowling powered over a minute later and Forde's conversion put Connacht 33-27 in front.
Paul Boyle came up with a jackal penalty as Sharks threatened on the 22 and a high clearout allowed Connacht to see out the game, Forde's late penalty pushed the margin out to eight and Masuku's late penalty meant the South Africans would leave with a bonus point.
If the Clan Stand had still stood the roof would have been lifted.
SCORERS AND TIMELINE
Connacht scorers: Tries: Dave Heffernan (2), Cathal Forde, Shane Jennings, Oisín Dowling.
Cons: Josh Ioane, Cathal Forde (3)
Pens: Cathal Forde
Sharks scorers: Tries: Andre Esterhuizen (2), Gerbrandt Grobler
Cons: Siya Masuku (3)
Pens: Jordan Hendrikse (2), Siya Masuku
Connacht: Santiago Cordero; Mack Hansen, Piers O'Conor, Cathal Forde, Shane Jennings; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Niall Murray, David O'Connor; Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast (capt).
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisín Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Caolin Blade, David Hawkshaw, Paul Boyle.
Sharks: Jordan Hendrikse; Eduan Keyter, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker; Siya Masuku; Bradley Davids; Ntuthuko Mchunu; Dylan Richardson, Ruan Dreyer; Jason Jenkins, Gerbrandt Grobler; James Venter, Vincent Tshituka (capt), Emmanuel Tshituka.
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Trevor Nyakane, Hanro Jacobs, Corne Rahl, Reniel Hugo, Tinotenda Mavesere, Tian Meyer, Gurswin Wehr.
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR).
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
