Sunday 22 January 2017 19:42, UK
Pat Lam admitted a lack of composure cost Connacht as they bowed out of the Champions Cup with a heartbreaking 19-10 defeat to Toulouse.
A losing bonus point would have been enough for the Irish province to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, but they could not work a scoring opportunity in a frantic finish.
John Muldoon's try in the 53rd gave Connacht hope but the westerners neglected an opportunity to work the ball infield with five minutes remaining to attempt a drop goal and Toulouse held on to book their place in the last eight, where they will travel to Munster.
When asked if the decision not to work a drop goal cost them, Lam admitted: "Obviously it did. When you are two points short it is a killer.
"But I am proud of the guys. We made a couple of bad system errors at the beginning and we gave them a 14-point lead.
"But true to Connacht character the boys grinded back. We probably weren't as composed as we could have been at different times."
Despite the agonising loss, Lam - who will leave Connacht at the end of the season to take over at Bristol - insists he is proud of his players.
"I am extremely proud," Lam said. "I was here four years ago when we won in the pool stages but we were nowhere near qualifying.
"We were there by default but we have earned our right to be here today and right to the last minute we had a chance to make it through.
"Toulouse's budget is ten times as much as ours. Connacht rugby is in such a great place for what we have and what we are able to produce."
