Each game week Paul Williams ‘Black & White’ column will take a look around the world of the Guinness PRO14 and beyond. Known for his contributions to Rugby World, his obsession for the game and his notorious tennis elbow, as an independent columnist Paul will bring his unique takes on rugby to pro14rugby.org. With no grey areas, entertainment and enlightenment are assured. A must follow on Twitter @thepaulwilliams

Connacht Do What Few Can

An 11-point lead in professional rugby is big. In the Heineken Champions’ Cup it’s gargantuan. Overturning an 11-point lead against Gloucester, with just four minutes left on the clock, is like the ending of a feel-good American Christmas movie.

But Connacht did and there are few teams that have the ability to do it. To those who don’t watch much of the Guinness PRO14, Connacht’s comeback may seem like a lucky day, but it wasn’t. Gloucester being reduced to 14 men certainly helped, but Connacht’s squad is set up for counter-attacking rugby.

Not a bad day at the office!! #championscup #connachtrugby pic.twitter.com/B1w4BckoHy
— Eoin McKeon (@eoiny123) December 15, 2019

With a mobile pack, a punchy midfield, and gas in the back three, they’re able to score rapidly without an over reliance on heavy set piece. To say that Connacht don’t have a reliable set piece would be very unfair, they do, particularly their lineout maul. But their ability to punch through the middle with Bundee Aki, or pass around the edge, has undone plenty of defenses this season – not just Gloucester.

The final try was a perfect example. How many teams have the skill and composure to execute a ‘turtle offload’ (a term I’ve coined to describe a player who offloads when he’s on his back) with the clock showing red numbers.

Connacht won’t win the competition, but they may surprise some of those who think they can. Well played Connacht.

Munster Should’ve Kicked… Easy For Me to Say

Even in defeat, Munster delivered a promising performance against Saracens. To take the current champions into the last 15 minutes of the game at Allianz Park is something that few ever do.

With a squad so deep that it can create nitrogen bubbles in your blood, the final 15 minutes are when Saracens usually pull away from teams and arguably what has separated Saracens, from the rest, over the past four seasons.

However, Munster had a slim chance to take away a losing bonus point but made the wrong decision. Requiring two scores, Munster were given the option to kick at goal or kick to touch and go for a try. But as we have seen a few times this season, and not just from Munster, the wrong decision was made.

JvG Reaction | "We're hugely disappointed.

"It's tough to take but we're incredibly proud of the performance of the guys out there.

"With so many disruptions the guys gave everything they've got."#SARvMUN pic.twitter.com/Y6q7hPlnUH
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) December 14, 2019

With the clock counting down, and the pressure rising, it is easy to get these decisions wrong. Logic would dictate that you take the highest-scoring option first (a try) reduce the bulk of the deficit, and then hope you get another shot at goal. But the decision shouldn’t be based on points – field position is the key.

You can theoretically score a try from anywhere on the pitch, but you can only realistically kick a goal from under 50 meters. Therefore, if a team is close enough to take the kick, they should take the shot at goal first – as there is no guarantee that you’ll get within range again. These decisions are of course very easy to make from the sofa and not quite so easy to make after 80 minutes of elite rugby when you have lungs like an empty crisp packet and more bruising than a neglected pear.

Glasgow pay the price for rugby’s new contact interpretations

The last five minutes of a rugby match are very different from the first. Even within a game with laws as chaotically subjective as rugby, referees whistle a game differently depending on the time on the clock. You are statistically less likely to receive a yellow or red card in the opening five minutes than you are in the closing five minutes for example.

Coaches are of course aware of this issue. That’s why during the last five minutes of a close game you’ll see teams making a big effort not to ‘seal off’ at the breakdown or clean-out rucks from the side. But the game doesn’t seem to have added the new contact interpretations to the list of offences which increase in potency as tight games near their conclusion– as Glasgow Warriors found out against La Rochelle.

🎥 Watch the highlights from Saturday's 7 - 12 loss to La Rochelle pic.twitter.com/tNQbCc3ew3
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) December 16, 2019

With the game seemingly lost, Glasgow scored in the corner and seemed to have pulled off a ‘Connacht’. But it all came to nothing. With a simple raise of his elbow, into the tacklers lower head and throat region, Matt Ferguson received an 80th minute red card and with it the game was lost.

Rugby needs to adapt to the new contact interpretations quickly and particularly during the last five minutes of tight games. A period where TMO’s morph from common owls, into hawks.

Faddes Lighting it up From the Shadows

With John Cooney lighting up European rugby, it is easy to forget about those lurking in his increasingly large shadow at Ulster. One of those is Matt Faddes. His performances for Ulster have been fantastic this season and whilst he may not get the social media headlines, he is arguably the most important player in the current Ulster squad.

📈 Here’s how Pool 3 of the @ChampionsCup looks with two group stage games to go 👇

11/01 v Clermont (A)
18/01 v Bath (H) 🎟 https://t.co/79ORhntXqx #SUFTUM pic.twitter.com/gGh3tB1mSg
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) December 15, 2019

Against Harlequins, as all season, he was consistently concentrated. Faddes is the classic kiwi backline import. If he was a player in a PS4 rugby game, his ratings wouldn’t be 90 for anything, but neither would they be 70 for anything. He’s a solid 80 at everything. Seemingly comfortable playing anywhere in the outside backs, he is more than the glue that holds the Ulster backline together, he’s the welding torch.

With Cooney undoubtedly going to feature for Ireland this season and the likes of Jacob Stockdale also being in short supply for Ulster, they needed an all-year-around signing who can take Ulster beyond mid table. In Faddes they have that. Well played Matt.

Benetton Get a ‘Showpiece Win’

To those within the Guinness PRO14 sphere, Benetton’s on-field rebrand was completed last season. With a very solid set-piece, some gainline gods in midfield and a back three who will run from anywhere, they transformed from a team who was largely written off, to play-off contenders.

👉🏼 MONDAY MOTIVATION 👈🏼 pic.twitter.com/98o0RNL4PG
— Benetton Rugby 🦁 (@BenettonRugby) December 16, 2019

But sometimes you need more than that. As global as rugby is becoming, the leagues remain very parochial. Due to the multi-channel platforms it is very rare for supporters to watch across multiple leagues. And that’s why Benetton’s victory over Lyon was so important. To beat the leaders of the Top 14, as an Italian club team, is remarkable. The gap in playing budget and squad depth is vast. Few in French rugby would have paid much attention to Benetton pre-tournament.

Next season, they may feel differently. Well done Benetton.