With 12 minutes to go in Connacht's 36-9 win against Stade Francais, the Irish side were treading water.
Ten points in front, and having been starved of the ball for the third quarter of the game, Connacht remained focused on the job, and the rewards followed.
In the final 10 minutes they crossed for three tries, the first of those from Eoghan Masterson bringing up their bonus point, the score that killed the game off.
"You can't but be pleased, a bonus-point win, six tries to nil against a team like Stade, which is no easy feat, so it is a great way to start our Champions Cup," a content Andy Friend declared after.
Connacht's preparations had been disrupted with a string of injuries this week. With Bundee Aki already unavailable, Ultan Dillane had been carrying a knock and wasn't risked, while Mack Hansen was pulled from the team sheet on Friday with a knock.
Added to that, Ireland international Finlay Bealham was a late scratch from the team this morning with illness, seeing Dominic Robertson McCoy put into the starting team and Jack Aungier brought onto the bench.
"We talk as a team about being adaptable, and we needed to be this week because we had a lot of things thrown at us.
"But we were adaptable and we managed to get a good 23 out there, still; some of the more familiar names were missing but that is the beauty of what we have got at the moment, we have some really good depth, so to have that 23 to turn up and do that to a team like Stade makes it really pleasing," Friend added.
While it took them until the 70th minute to secure the bonus point, the game turned on Alex Wootton's try right on half time, turning a six-point lead into a 13 point advantage, from which Stade never recovered.
"It was a big momentum swing – (the Wooton try) – and he is in a rich vein of form, as are a couple of our boys, but he is only going to get better, too. He is definitely playing great rugby and leading this team really well.
"We have three words that we use to describe ourselves: relentless, fast and adaptable. I was really pleased how relentless we were. The game was won but we got two late tries. Even at the 80th minute mark, for Cian Prendergast to score, it just shows the fight, the hunger and the relentlessness that we have."
The western province are looking to reach the Champions Cup knockout stages for the first time in their history, and they've made the perfect start, but an even tougher challenge awaits next Sunday as they visit the unbeaten Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers.
"We are under no illusions about what lies ahead, at same time we get a lot of confidence out of that, and they are just another footie team," the Australian added.
"We know what is coming from them and they have a fair idea bout what is coming from us but it should be a good contest."
"We have a tough test ahead of us next week but at the same time if we want to be that team, we have to learn to go away from home, to front up and to get wins. We want to be that rugby team and we will see what next Sunday brings."
