Stuart Lancaster's second season in charge of Connacht has started with a defeat, after the province fell to a 29-15 loss at home to the Stormers in Galway.
Tries for Mack Hansen and Josh Ioane, and five points from the boot of Sam Gilbert, had the western province 15-10 ahead with just over 25 minutes left to play, but they couldn't deal with a powerful South African side, who grabbed two late tries to deny Connacht a bonus-point.
The home side were sloppy in possession for much of the first half, and they fell 3-0 behind after 10 minutes when Stormers out-half Jurie Matthee knocked over a penalty, and on 20 minutes the tourists made their early dominance count when full-back Warrick Gelent latched onto a beautiful grubber from Andre Warner, with Matthee's conversion making it 10-0.
The Stormers should have added more tries, but saw multiple chances go to waste, and on 34 minutes they were frustrated again when an intercept by Gilbert allowed Connacht go back on the attack.
Lancaster's side had offered nothing in attack for most of the first half, but came alive in the five minutes before the break, Cathal Forde's hard carry for the line was followed up by Hansen (below), who dived in for a try which Gilbert converted.
Incredibly, Connacht were in front by half time, and again Hansen was to the fore as his arcing run stretched the Stormers defence, and Ioane then crashed over the line for a 12-10 half time lead.
A huge intervention from Gilbert and John Devine denied Seabalo Senatla a try early in the second half, before the Connacht full-back kicked a penalty to put his side 15-10 ahead.
The Stormers went to their bench and started to get scrum dominance, which yielded penalties and opportunities in the 22, and when Paul Boyle was sent to the sin-bin on 54 minutes, they took advantage through tighthead prop Sazi Sandi, whose converted try made it 17-15.
It remained a two-point game until two minutes from time, but it was the Stormers who looked in complete control, and they eventually crossed for a third try, hooker Vernon Paulo the scorer.
The conversion was missed, giving Connacht one more minute to chase a potential draw, but the Stormers would go on to wrap up the bonus-point win as a knock-on by Gilbert was hacked downfield, allowing Ezekiel Ngobeni dive over and cap off a perfect start for the Cape Town side.
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