No fuss, and no drama.
It wasn't long ago that Connacht being in the Heineken Champions Cup was a story in itself. Now, Andy Friend's side have made clear their intentions of knockout rugby, and they've given themselves every chance of getting it.
It wouldn't be fair to say that Connacht's win came against an understrength Stade Francais, because the hosts were just as depleted. Bundee Aki, Tom Daly, Tom Farrell, Finlay Bealham, Mack Hansen, Tiernan O'Halloran and Ultan Dillane were among those either injured or rested, not to mention the long-term absentees Gavin Thornbury and Denis Buckley.
But this Connacht side are adaptable, and controlled this game. Even in third quarter when Stade Francais held the majority of possession, they rarely got near the 22 to make any use of it.
Caolin Blade went over for their first try on ten minutes before John Porch and Alex Wootton followed before the break.
All that was left was the bonus point, and after a patient third quarter it arrived on 70 minutes through Eoghan Masterson, before Diarmuid Kilgallen and Cian Prendergast popped the cork of the champagne bottle with further scores, to the delight of the 5,277 fans in attendance.
Both sides were forced into changes on the morning of the game; illness for Bealham saw Dominic Robertson-McCoy get his first start of the season, while Stade were hit with the withdrawal of All Black centre Ngani Laumape, adding to the absences of Waisea Nayacalevu, Clement Castets, Yoann Maestri and Sekou Macalou among others.
Connacht's intentions were clear from the off; kicking three penalties to the corner, the third of which was comfortably inside Carty's range.
It proved to be the correct decision, as Shane Delanhunt found Cian Prendergast at the tail, and while the maul was dealt with by the visitors Connacht eventually got their try, Shayne Bolton held up just short of the line, before Blade burrowed over.
Carty converted under the posts for a deserved 7-0 lead.
Connacht have often been vulnerable right after scoring and switched off briefly in defence to allow Telusa Veainu break the line into the 22, but the Tongan's offload was loose.
However, the French side did get their first points shortly after, Matthew Burke penalised at the scrum, allowing Nicolas Sanchez slot over three points.
The Connacht error was compounded by another as Carty kicked the restart out on the full, with Stade winning a penalty from the resulting scrum which Sanchez converted off the post. It was 7-6, and Connacht had gifted Stade their points.
Stade were well settled as the first quarter expired. Their aggression in defence was preventing Connacht from playing their usual fast game, forcing the Irish side into more rucks than they would have wished.
The aggression spilled over, and they were lucky to keep 15 players on the pitch, as Australia hooker Tolu Latu shoulder charged Delahunt off the ball. Referee Luke Pearce decided a penalty would suffice, but Connacht couldn't take advantage on the scoreboard.
While they had ceded possession, they were keeping Stade pinned into their own 22, and a poor clearance gave them another chance at the line. This time they took it.
Blade darted infield towards the posts, sucking in defenders, allowing Carty move back against the grain. The out-half spotted Porch free on the left wing, floating a beautiful skip pass to his left, as Porch dived in for the second try.
Carty's conversion was swept wide by a gusting wind, leaving the advantage at 12-6 to the hosts.
Jordan Duggan's introduction for Burke as a HIA replacement made an impact at the scrum, and the penalty he won on 38 minutes gave them the access they needed to score their third try just before the break.
Again, Delahunt's lineout was perfect, and the maul brought them close to the line, before a series of pick-and-jam efforts drew in the Stade defenders. Like Porch had been for their second try, Wootton was in acres of space on the right wing, and was found by Carty's looping pass before touching down, the out-half driving his conversion between the posts before running in for the half-time break with a healthy 19-6 lead.
It felt like a killer blow, but Stade Francais threw themselves into the early stages of the second half, shaving three points off the deficit with a Sanchez penalty.
Connacht came firing back, with an immaculate 50:22 from John Porch flipping momentum back to the home side. It led to a dominant maul and another Connacht penalty which came close to the tryline, but Dave Heffernan was pinged for not releasing.
The third quarter passed with neither side able to grab a hold on the game. Connacht were indisciplined, but Stade couldn't take advantage. While they controlled possession they only made one entry to the Connacht 22, which the hosts dealt with easily.
The Stade scrum was dominant, but their out-half Sanchez was struggling as the wind picked up in Galway Bay, missing touch with one penalty, before sending a kick out on the full 60 seconds later.
Connacht were hardly touching the ball, but their patience was unwavering and rewarded with 10 minutes left.
Kieran Marmion's grubber down the guts of the pitch was deflected by a Stade player, and the bobbling ball was spilled by the French cover. Connacht pounced, with Carty's swift pass to the right caught by Eoghan Masterson who dived over in the corner to bring up the bonus point try, which was converted by Carty to make it 26-7.
By now the party was in full flow and the fifth try arrived three minutes later. Conor Oliver broke into the 22 as the Clan Terrace sang the Fields of Athenry, the ball recycled to the left wing for Kilgallen to coast across the line.
Andy Friend's side were relentless and still found time for try number six, Cian Prendergast rewarded for a tireless performance as he burrowed over, signing off a perfect Champions Cup start in the west.
Connacht: Oran McNulty; Alex Wootton, Shayne Bolton, Sammy Arnold, John Porch; Jack Carty (capt), Caolin Blade; Matthew Burke, Shane Delahunt, Dominic Robertson-McCoy; Oisin Dowing, Niall Murray; Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler.
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Eoghan Masterson, Sean Masterson, Kieran Marmion, Conor Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Kilgallen.
Stade Francais: Telusa Veainu; Paul Champ, Alex Arrate, Léo Barre, Lester Etien; Nicolas Sanchez, James Hall; Quentin Bethune, Tolu Latu, Nemo Roelofse; Mathieu de Giovanni, JJ van der Mescht; Marcos Kremer, Charlie Francoz, Tala Gray (capt).
Replacements: Lucas Da Silva, Moses Alo-Emile, Paul Alo-Emile, Paul Gabrillagues, Loic Godener, William Percillier, Gauthier Wolf, Adrien Lapegue.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
