Connacht progress after two late tries in La Rochelle
Connacht have sealed the eighth and last quarter-final berth of the European Challenge Cup.
It comes after they overcame a nine-point half-time deficit to beat La Rochelle 30-20 and earn second spot behind Exeter in Pool Two.
Connacht looked in serious trouble as they trailed 20-11 at the break at Stade Marcel Deflandre but they rallied to set up a showdown with Gloucester in the next round.
Tries from Kieran Marmion, Eoin McKeon, Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy earned the Irish side their bonus point, with Jack Carty slotting over two conversions and two penalties.
Albain Meron’s score, plus a penalty try and 10 points from Jean-Pascal Barraque had put La Rochelle in charge.
Already-qualified Exeter Chiefs will head into the quarter-finals as second seeds - and a clash with Newcastle - after rounding off their group campaign with a 45-3 drubbing of Bayonne.
Exeter only led 11-0 at the break through England international Jack Nowell’s unconverted try and a brace of penalties, but the Chiefs ran amok in the second half with five more tries as they made it eight home wins in a row in the Challenge Cup.
Matt Jess, David Ewers, Carl Rimmer, Kai Horstmann and Dean Mumm all crossed the line after the interval, with the rest of Exeter’s points coming from three Gareth Steenson conversions and a trio of Henry Slade penalties. Martin Bustos Moyano notched Bayonne’s points from a 46th-minute penalty.
