Connacht vs Leinster

d-gal

The match of the season

always close enough when it's in galway, especially if it is pissing out of the heavens like it currently is.
Leinster fielding a weaker side which is disappointing, but hopefully connacht will grab at least a bonus point of them

Leinster squad to face Connacht
Forwards (12): Cian Healy, Stan Wright, Brian Blaney, John Fogarty, CJ Van Der Linde, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Cameron Jowitt, Devin Toner, Rocky Elsom, Sean O'Brien, Stephen Keogh
Backs (11): Chris Keane, Chris Whitaker, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton, Simon Keogh, Fergus Mc Fadden, Luke Fitzgerald, Gary Brown, Shane Horgan, Felix Jones, Rob Kearney

Missing: (forwards) jackman, o'kelly, jennings and heaslip
(backs) o'driscoll, dempsey

Robbo

Connacht 22:

Backs: Liam Bibo, Kieran Campbell, Fionn Carr, Gavin Duffy, John Hearty, Ian Keatley, Keith Matthews, Frank Murphy, Troy Nathan, Michael Roberts

Forwards: Andrew Browne, Sean Cronin, Andrew Farley, Ronan Loughney, Michael McCarthy, Robbie Morris, Conor Muldoon, John Muldoon, Johnny O'Connor, Colm Rigney, Michael Swift, Brett Wilkinson.

Not considered due to injury: A Dunne (hamstring-knack), A Flavin (rib-ouch), R Ofisa (shoulder-gah), C O'Loughlin (hip-tweak).

Disappeared into the ether: Danny Riordan, Mel Deane

Amazotheamazing

Robbo wrote: »

Connacht 22:

Backs: Liam Bibo, Kieran Campbell, Fionn Carr, Gavin Duffy, John Hearty, Ian Keatley, Keith Matthews, Frank Murphy, Troy Nathan, Michael Roberts

Forwards: Andrew Browne, Sean Cronin, Andrew Farley, Ronan Loughney, Michael McCarthy, Robbie Morris, Conor Muldoon, John Muldoon, Johnny O'Connor, Colm Rigney, Michael Swift, Brett Wilkinson.

Not considered due to injury: A Dunne (hamstring-knack), A Flavin (rib-ouch), R Ofisa (shoulder-gah), C O'Loughlin (hip-tweak).

Disappeared into the ether: Danny Riordan, Mel Deane

What happened Riordan, I remember him ripping Munster apart in Thomond when he was 19 or 20? Has he fallen by the wayside completely? Tbh, I was hoping Munster would poach him.

Robbo

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

What happened Riordan, I remember him ripping Munster apart in Thomond when he was 19 or 20? Has he fallen by the wayside completely? Tbh, I was hoping Munster would poach him.

He lost his starting place at full back due to Duffy caming back and his tendency to make a bags of a high ball. Last year he ended up on the wing or at 12 in between injuries. No idea if he's even fit at the moment because the CB rarely give any proper information on injuries.

Maccers55

Riordan is a prime example of how Bradley is having such a negative impact on Connacht. Riordan without doubt is a quality player but lately he appears to have lost a lot of confidence. A large part of the problem imo is Bradley's insistance in playing him in a number of different positions - full back/winger/centre. Its debateable which is his best position and that decision needs to be made sooner rather than later, but he is most certainly not a winger. Only last xmas aginst Muster he was one of the best players on the pitch playing centre yet within a couple of months bradley was picking Mostyn (a poor winger) at 2nd centre and Riordan on the wing. it defies logic. if Bradley stays at connacht riordan needs to get out of there. remember this is the same player that was on the irish training 35 less than 2 years ago and now he is actually going backwards. bradley is a disease to connacht rugby and any potential future talent they have. i hope keatley and carr don't suffer a similar fate!!

Amazotheamazing

Just looked up his stats there, he's only turned 24 but he should really have progressed more, imo.

I agree with you Macca, Bradley wrecks players by shifting them all over the place for no apparent reason.

Dave Joyce

Riordan is a prime example of how Bradley is having such a negative impact on Connacht.

Yes, but why is there nothing happening publicly about trying to get Bradley out. I have nothing against the man personally but he is destroying Connacht. His decisions are dreadful.

Last year, during games the teams fitness seemed very poor especially compared with the opposition so they appoint new fitness coaches and ALREADY at this stage in the season, their fitness seems EVEN worse than last year, let alone some of his team positioning.

ALH-06

I definitely agree. Bradley should go. I know Connacht don't have the resources that the other provinces do but they have to start doing better. They've got some good players and should be doing better.

I can't understand the whole "well fair play to Bradley, he's doing a decent job in Connacht with no resources etc" argument. Decent job? They come last or second last every year, he couldn't be doing any worse!

IRFU efforts with Bradley haven't worked, time to find someone else. Mind you we've got to start developing world class coaches - 3 of 4 provincial coaches are Australian!

redroar1942

ALH-06 wrote: »

I definitely agree. Bradley should go. I know Connacht don't have the resources that the other provinces do but they have to start doing better. They've got some good players and should be doing better.

I can't understand the whole "well fair play to Bradley, he's doing a decent job in Connacht with no resources etc" argument. Decent job? They come last or second last every year, he couldn't be doing any worse!

IRFU efforts with Bradley haven't worked, time to find someone else. Mind you we've got to start developing world class coaches - 3 of 4 provincial coaches are Australian!

You cant make wine from oranges, he'd have to have to some semblence of being a decent coach to start with. But I agree with you that there is a lack of young Irish coaches coming through.

Zzippy

redroar1942 wrote: »

You cant make wine from oranges, he'd have to have to some semblence of being a decent coach to start with. But I agree with you that there is a lack of young Irish coaches coming through.

Orange wine, hmmm, you may be onto an idea there!

I was prepared until this season to give Bradley the benefit of the doubt, thought he didn't have much to work with in terms of money and players, and was quite encouraged by the signings made this summer. Expected a good start to the season and improved displays, losing bonus points anyway for matches where we would have been well beaten before. But the Glasgow game aside, its been a total disaster. Defence is a shambles, fitness levels are non-existent it seems, looks like preseason was a waste of time this year.
I'm rapidly losing patience now, and reckon its only a matter of time before the crowd turns on him, but where are we going to get a decent coach from? Elwood would prob be next choice, and he's part of the setup already, so no new ideas or inspiration there...

Heroditas

Bradley needs to go, simple as. He's a disaster. I am firmly convinced that Ireland would have done much better in the summer if he hadn't been there in charge.

However, no chance of him being fired due to his father-in-law. :rolleyes:

JWAD

Heroditas wrote: »

However, no chance of him being fired due to his father-in-law. :rolleyes:

oh ffs........:rolleyes:

Amazotheamazing

Heroditas wrote: »

Bradley needs to go, simple as. He's a disaster. I am firmly convinced that Ireland would have done much better in the summer if he hadn't been there in charge.

However, no chance of him being fired due to his father-in-law. :rolleyes:

I agree, I'm just glad Munster managed to avoid him again. We mightn't always be so lucky.

Jackz

15: Rob Kearney
14: Shane Horgan
13: Luke Fitzgerald
12: Felipe Contepomi
11: Simon Keogh
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Chris Keane

1: Stan Wright
2: John Fogarty
3: CJ Van Der Linde
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Devin Toner
6: Rocky Elsom
7: Sean O’Brien
8: Stephen Keogh

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Cian Healy
17: Brian Blaney
18: Trevor Hogan
19: Cameron Jowitt
20: Chris Whitaker
21: Fergus McFadden
22: Gary Brown

Be interesting to see how Luke and Keogh do.

Robbo

Connacht Team: F Carr; L Bibo, G Duffy, K Matthews, M Roberts; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Loughney; M McCarthy, A Farley; J Muldoon (C), J O'Connor, C Rigney.

Replacements: C Muldoon, R Morris, A Browne, M Swift, K Campbell, T Nathan, J Hearty.

d-gal

riordan has been injured of late and is playing for buccaneers vs dolphin @ full back so should be interesting to see how he recovers

wixfjord

Currently 9-3 leinster with 30 mins gone, just been yellow card for connacht. Anyone know if theres a radio link??

wixfjord

Just found this link: http://www.justin.tv/sportstime

wixfjord

9-9 now, connacht on top and still a man down. Cmon Leinster ffs:mad:

marco_polo

Leinster would want to up it signifigantly in the second to avoid an upset. Good gritty performance from the men of the west so far.

ScrubsfanChris

Better quality: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hd_sports_fans

ironingbored

Leinster hopeless at the moment. What has happened to Shane Horgan?

galwayrush

I was hoping for a bonus point, but this looks optomistic for more.

wixfjord

Mother of god its hard beinmg a leinster fan.....:mad:

ScrubsfanChris

What a try for Connacht!!!!

09-16

But now Connacht are down to 14 for the rest of the game.:mad:

dreamer_ire

14-9 Connaught tho they now a man down permanently!

RuggieBear

15-14 leinster! players that is

galwayrush

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

What a try for Connacht!!!!

09-16

But now Connacht are down to 14 for the rest of the game.:mad:

Hopefully that will make us fight harder to the end.

Trojan

Before there's a huge debate about whether Connacht #4 deserved a second yellow: he deserved a 100% straight red for headbutting in the face. No doubt whatsoever.

galwayrush

16 - 9 . Come on Connacht

Jackz

Trojan wrote: »

Before there's a huge debate about whether Connacht #4 deserved a second yellow: he deserved a 100% straight red for headbutting in the face. No doubt whatsoever.

As a Leinster supporter Leo deserved a yellow for starting the thing.

ScrubsfanChris

19-12 to Connacht

galwayrush

19 - 12 now, why do i feel so nervous.

marco_polo

19-12 now. 25 minutes is a long way go with 14 men though

galwayrush

We managed to avoid an almost certain Leinster Try there.

galwayrush

Leinster are piling on the pressure, a long time left to hold out.

dreamer_ire

19-15 now. Another almost try for Leinster... they really knocking on the door!

d-gal

Whats left? stuck at work, c'mon connacht!!!

RuggieBear

19-18

9 mins left

eigrod

Connacht's lineout is very bad and costing them territory every time.

ScrubsfanChris

19-18 with 8 mins left

d-gal

dear jesus time goes slow

marco_polo

One minute to go

d-gal

c'mon god help the west

Cool_CM

19 - 18
Pitch Invasion, Class!

RuggieBear

con win.

killed the clock for the last 5mins

CrowdedHouse

Well done Connacht

ScrubsfanChris

Its all over!!!

Well done Connacht from a Munster man:D

ironingbored

All over. Connaught 19-18 winners.

What now for Leinster?

d-gal

woooooohooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

galwayrush

Such a tense ending, it seemed to go on forever.I can hardly believe we managed to hold on.:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool: