1999–2000 Connacht Rugby season

1999–2000 Connacht Rugby season

Ground(s)	The Sportsground, Galway
Coach(es)	Glen Ross
Top scorer	Eric Elwood (106)
Most tries	Martyn Steffert (4)
League(s)	Challenge Cup (3rd in pool) IRFU Interprovincial Championship (4th)
← 1998–90 2000–01 →

The 1999-2000 season was Connacht's fifth season under professionalism, and their second under head coach Clive Ross. They competed in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship, finishing fourth with no wins, and the European Challenge Cup, finishing third in their pool. Ross resigned at the end of the season. ^[1]

Player transfers

Players in Mel Deane from Richmond Conor Kilroy from Munster Mark McConnell Shane McDonald Stephen McIvor from Munster Matt Mostyn from Bègles-Bordeaux [2] Gavin Webster from Rotherham

Players out Owen Cobbe Mick Finlay Graham Heaslip Willie Ruane Russell Southam [3]

Squad

Connacht Rugby squad
Props Martin Cahill John Maher Jimmy Screene Hookers Bernard Jackman Shane McDonald Joe McVeigh Locks Mark McConnell Colm Rigney Gavin Webster	Back row Eoin Brennan John Casserly Junior Charlie Ian Dillon Barry Gavin Shane McEntee Ultan O'Callaghan Martyn Steffert Scrum-halves James Ferris Conor McGuinness Stephen McIvor David Mescal Fly-halves Eric Elwood	Centres Mel Deane Matt Mostyn Mervyn Murphy Wings Nigel Carolan Pat Duignan Fullbacks Simon Allnutt Conor Kilroy
(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.

IRFU Interprovincial Championship

Main article: IRFU Interprovincial Championship

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	BP	Pts	Status
Munster	6	6	0	0	242	103	5	29	Champions; qualified for 2000–01 Heineken Cup
Ulster	6	3	0	3	186	129	3	15	Qualified for next season's Heineken Cup
Leinster	6	2	0	4	145	137	2	10	Qualified for 2000–01 Heineken Cup
Connacht	6	0	0	6	85	289	1	1	Qualified 2000–01 European Challenge Cup

7 August 1999	Connacht	9-50	Ulster	Galway Sportsgrounds
	Pen: Elwood (3)	Report [4]	Try: J. Topping McWhirter Cunningham O'Cuinneagain Howe Clarke Con: Mason (3) Pen: Mason (3)	Referee: M. White
Connacht lineup: 1. John Maher, 2. Joe McVeigh, 3. Jimmy Screene, 4. Gavin Webster, 5. Mark McConnell, 6. Martyn Steffert, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Bernard Jackman, 9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Pat Duignan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Mel Deane, 14. Matt Mostyn, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: Martin Cahill (for Screene 42'), Colm Rigney (for Webster 27-32, for Steffert 56'), Nigel Carolan (for Duignan 57'), Eoin Brennan (for McVeigh 67').

14 August 1999	Connacht	17–67	Munster	Galway Sportsgrounds
	Try: Duignan Murphy Con: Elwood (2) Pen: Elwood	Report [5]	Try: O'Gara Crotty (3) Kelly (2) Lynch Wallace Corkery Sheehan Con: O'Gara (7) Pen: O'Gara
Connacht lineup: 1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Shane McDonald, 3. Martin Cahill, 4. Colm Rigney, 5. Mark McConnell, 6. John Casserly, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Bernard Jackman, 9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Pat Duignan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Mel Deane, 14. Matt Mostyn, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: Conor Kilroy (for Allnutt 29'), Nigel Carolan (for Kilroy 63'), John Maher (for Cahill 67'), Eoin Brennan (for Jackman 75').

3 September 1999	Leinster	22-19	Connacht	Donnybrook Stadium
	Try: S. Byrne O'Driscoll Pen: Dempsey Everitt (3)	Report [6]	Try: Deane Con: Elwood Pen: Elwood (4)
Connacht lineup: 1. John Maher, 2. Shane McDonald, 3. Martin Cahill, 5. Gavin Webster, 6. Mark McConnell, 6. Martyn Steffert, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Eoin Brennan, 9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Pat Duignan. 12. Mel Deane, 13. Marvyn Murphy, 14. Matt Mostyn, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: Stephen McIvor (for McGuinness 42'), Joe McVeigh (for McDonald 66'), Shane McEntee (for Brennan 80')

30 October 1999	Connacht	8-53	Leinster	Musgrave Park
	Try: Deane Pen: Elwood	Report [7]	Try: Costello (2) McWeeney (2) D'Arcy (2) Hickie Horgan Farrell Con: Everitt (2) Farrell
Connacht lineup: 1. John Maher, 2. Shane McDonald, 3. Martin Cahill, 5. Gavin Webster, 6. Mark McConnell, 6. Colm Rigney, 7. Eoin Brennan, 8. Martyn Steffert, 9. Stephen McIvor, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Pat Duignan. 12. Mel Deane, 13. Marvyn Murphy, 14. Matt Mostyn, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: Barry Gavin (for Brennan 15'), Bernard Jackman (for Steffert 51'), Jimmy Screene (for Cahill 51'), Nigel Carolan (for Mostyn 55').

5 November 1999	Ulster	44-22	Connacht	Ravenhill
	Try: Bromley (2) Blair McWhirter Cunningham Ward Con: Mason (4) Pen: Mason (2)	Report [8] [9]	Try: Steffert Mostyn Penalty try Con: Elwood (2) Pen: Elwood
Connacht lineup: 1. John Maher, 2. Shane McDonald, 3. Martin Cahill, 5. Gavin Webster, 6. Mark McConnell, 6. Colm Rigney, 7. Eoin Brennan, 8. Martyn Steffert, 9. Stephen McIvor, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mel Deane, 13. Matt Mostyn, 14. Pat Duignan, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: Barry Gavin (for Rigney 54'), David Mescal (for McIvor 79').

12 November 1999	Munster	53–10	Connacht	Thomond Park
	Try: Mullins Horan Horgan Foley Staunton (2) Kelly Con: Keane (6) Pen: Keane (2)	Report [10]	Try: Allnutt Con: Elwood Pen: Elwood
Connacht lineup: 1. John Maher, 2. Shane McDonald, 3. Martin Cahill, 5. Gavin Webster, 6. Mark McConnell, 6. Barry Gavin, 7. Eoin Brennan, 8. Martyn Steffert, 9. David Mescal, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mel Deane, 13. Matt Mostyn, 14. Pat Duignan, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: Bernard Jackman (for Brennan 53'), Conor Kilroy (for Deane 68').

European Challenge Cup

Main article: 1999–2000 European Challenge Cup

Pool 4

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Pts
Ebbw Vale	6	6	0	0	31	13	18	252	127	125	12
Toulon	6	3	0	3	17	8	9	178	148	30	6
Connacht	6	2	0	4	15	18	−3	131	165	−34	4
Steaua București	6	1	0	5	13	37	−24	120	241	−121	2

19 November 1999	Ebbw Vale	32 – 9	Connacht	Eugene Cross Park
19:30	Try: Easterby Williams Con: Connor (2) Pen: Connor (6)	Report [11]	Pen: Elwood (3)	Attendance: 2,500
Connacht lineup: 1. John Maher, 2. Shane McDonald, 3. Martin Cahill, 4. Gavin Webster, 5. Mark McConnell, 6. Junior Charlie, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. Ian Dillon, 9. David Mescal, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mel Deane, 13. Matt Mostyn, 14. Pat Duignan, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: Mervyn Murphy, James Ferris, Bernard Jackman, Ultan O'Callaghan.

27 November 1999	Steaua Bucharest	30 – 20	Connacht	Club of Army
14:30	Try: Mocanu Boldor Balmos Con: Popisteanu (3) Pen: Popisteanu Drop: Popisteanu (2)	Report [12]	Try: Jackman O'Callaghan Elwood Con: Elwood Pen: Elwood	Attendance: 1,500
Connacht lineup: 1. John Maher, 2. Bernard Jackman, 3. Martin Cahill, 4. Mark McConnell, 5. Gavin Webster, 6. Barry Gavin, 7. Ian Dillon, 8. Ultan O'Callaghan, 9. James Ferris, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mel Deane, 13. Matt Mostyn, 14. Pat Duignan, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: Conor Kilroy, Eoin Brennan.

11 December 1999	Connacht	27 – 13	Toulon	Sportsground
14:30	Try: O'Callaghan Screene Con: Elwood Pen: Elwood (5)	Report [13]	Try: Mignoni Con: Burton Pen: Burton (2)	Attendance: 1,000
Connacht lineup: 1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Bernard Jackman, 3. Martin Cahill, 4. Gavin Webster, 5. Mark McConnell, 6. Junior Charlie, 7. Ian Dillon, 8. Ultan O'Callaghan, 9. Stephen McIvor, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Pat Duignan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Mel Deane, 14. Matt Mostyn, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: John Maher, Colm Rigney.

18 December 1999	Toulon	41 – 15	Connacht	Stade Félix Mayol
20:00	Try: Mignoni Delmotte Salacroux Macurdy Con: Burton (3) Pen: Burton (5)	Report [14]	Pen: Elwood (5)	Attendance: 1,500
Connacht lineup: 1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Bernard Jackman, 3. Martin Cahill, 4. Gavin Webster, 5. Mark McConnell, 6. Ultan O'Callaghan, 7. Ian Dillon, 8. Martyn Steffert, 9. Stephen McIvor, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Pat Duignan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Mel Deane, 14. Matt Mostyn, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: Conor Kilroy, John Maher, Colm Rigney, Eoin Brennan.

8 January 2000	Connacht	41 – 7	Steaua Bucharest	Sportsground
14:30	Try: McConnell Duignan Allnutt Steffert (3) Mostyn Screene Con: Elwood (3)	Report [15]	Try: Boldor Con: Popisteanu	Attendance: 1,000
Connacht lineup: 1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Bernard Jackman, 3. Martin Cahill, 4. Gavin Webster, 5. Mark McConnell, 6. Barry Gavin, 7. Ian Dillon, 8. Martyn Steffert, 9. Stephen McIvor, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Pat Duignan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Mel Deane, 14. Matt Mostyn, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: John Maher.

15 January 2000	Connacht	19 – 42	Ebbw Vale	Sportsground
14:30	Try: Mostyn Deane Kilroy Con: Elwood (2)	Report [16]	Try: Wagstaff Easterby Shorney Green Banks Con: Connor (4) Pen: Connor (3)	Attendance: 1,500
Connacht lineup: 1. Jimmy Screene, 2. Bernard Jackman, 3. Martin Cahill, 4. Colm Rigney, 5. Mark McConnell, 6. Barry Gavin, 7. Ian Dillon, 8. Martyn Steffert, 9. Stephen McIvor, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Pat Duignan, 12. Mervyn Murphy, 13. Mel Deane, 14. Matt Mostyn, 15. Simon Allnutt. Replacements: Conor Kilroy.

Representative

21 August 1999	Connacht	26-43	Ireland Select XV	Sportsground
	Try: Quinlan (2) Deane Con: Elwood Pen: Elwood (3)	Report [17]	Try: Maggs Miller Topping O'Meara Mullins Con: Humphreys (4) Pen: Humphreys
Connacht lineup: 1.John Maher, 2. Shane McDonald, 3. Martin Cahill, 4. Colm Rogney, 5. Mark McConnell, 6. Alan Quinlan, 7. Barry Gavin, 8. David Wallace, 9. Conor McGuinness, 10. Eric Elwood, 11. Nigel Carolan, 12. Mel Deane, 13. Mervyn Murphy, 14. Pat Duignan, 15. Simon Allnut. Replacements: A. Kearney (for Rigney 58'), Stephen McIvor (for McGuinness 62'), Eoin Brennan (for Wallace 63'), D. Brady (for Deane 75').
Ireland Select XV lineup: 1. Justin Fitzpatrick, 2. R. Nesdale, 3. Angus McKeen, 4. Jeremy Davidson, 5. Malcolm O'Kelly, 6. Trevor Brennan, 7. Dion O'Cuinneagain, 8. Andy Ward, 9. Brian O'Meara, 10. David Humphreys, 11. Matt Mostyn, 12. Kevin Maggs, 13. Brian O'Driscoll, 14. James Topping, 15 Conor O'Shea. Replacements: Paddy Johns (for O'Kelly 51'), Paul Wallace (for McKeen 51'), Eric Miller (for Brennan 51'), Ronan O'Gara (for Humphreys 73'), Mike Mullins (for Maggs 73').

References

1. "Ross resigns as Connacht coach", Connacht Tribune, 31 March 2000
2. "Major coup for Buccs", Roscommon Champion, 9 JUly 1999
3. Gerry Thornley, "Ulster bid to continue their roll by recruiting heavily", The Irish Times, 31 July 1999
4. "Ulster go wild out west", Sunday Life, 8 August 1999
5. "Connacht 17-67 Munster". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
6. "Cup woe strikes Dempsey", Irish Independent, 4 September 1999
7. "Leinster chalk up record in Galway", Sunday Life, 31 October 1999
8. Jim Stokes, "Bromley powers Ulster to victory", Belfast Telegraph, 6 November 1999
9. "Ulster earn Euro Place", Irish Independent, 6 November 1999
10. "Munster 53-10 Connacht". Munster Rugby. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
11. "Ebbw Vale storm back to overwhelm Connacht", Irish Examiner, 20 November 1999
12. Linley McKenzie, "Squandermania", Sunday Independent, 28 November 1999
13. "Elwood kick starts Connacht", Sunday Life, 12 December 1999
14. "Toulon 41 Connacht 15", Sunday Independent, 19 December 1999
15. Kieran Rooney, "Connacht redeem some pride with another home Shield victory", Sunday Independent, 9 January 2000
16. "Connacht suffer final agony", Sunday Independent, 16 January 2000
17. Barry Coghlan, "Rusty Ireland get wake-up call", Irish Examiner, 23 August 1999