Ackermann hails gloucester spirit
CONNACHT 28 GLOUCESTER 33
Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann was relieved after edging out Connacht 33-28 in a pulsating Challenge Cup quarter-final at the Sportsground.
The Aviva Premiership side held off a spirited late comeback from the hosts to progress to the last-four of the European competition and earn a shot at returning to the final after losing last year’s decider to Stade Francais.
“It’s a mixed feeling performance-wise, but I’m proud of the guys for the way they responded when it was needed,” said South African Ackermann, who is hoping to add to Gloucester’s 2015 Challenge Cup title.
First-half tries from James Hanson, Tom Marshall and man-of-the-match Henry Trinder were added to after the break by veteran prop John Afoa on his 100th outing for the Cherry and Whites.
Connacht, who trailed 17-10 at half-time and twice fought back to a two-point deficit in the second half, also ran in four tries through returning Ireland internationals Bundee Aki and Kieran Marmion, Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy.
Gloucester will host Premiership rivals Newcastle at Kingsholm in their semi-final.
Connacht head coach Kieran Keane said he was not overly disappointed with the defeat, praising his team’s resilience and spirit in chasing down the Gloucester lead, but he rued some costly defensive errors.
“I do believe we’re a little bit naive as a team still. From my perspective, we have an issue allowing teams into scoring areas. We know what’s going on, but unfortunately we slip up at times,” he said.