Connacht Rugby Thread - Part III - The Violence of the Lams

testtech05

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

McCartney, Healy and Buckley all ruled out for the Ulster game. Injury bug strikes again.

Terrible timing with the run we have coming up all could be out for a while it looked like at the game Friday!

testtech05

http://www.the42.ie/connacht-injury-update-3-october-2016-3007969-Oct2016/

Bazzo

Losing Buckley and McCartney in one go is huge, significantly weakens our pack. Hopefully neither is very serious and they're both back soon.

FACECUTTR

Bazzo wrote: »

Losing Buckley and McCartney in one go is huge, significantly weakens our pack. Hopefully neither is very serious and they're both back soon.

Absolutely terrible news but hopefully they are not serious injuries. Carey looks good for TH so Finlay could move to LH or start Loughney and have Soroka bench.

connachta

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Bazzo wrote: »

Losing Buckley and McCartney in one go is huge, significantly weakens our pack. Hopefully neither is very serious and they're both back soon.

Absolutely terrible news but hopefully they are not serious injuries. Carey looks good for TH so Finlay could move to LH or start Loughney and have Soroka bench.

Agree but Soroka is injured

connachta

We're unlucky but not decimated

If Lam takes ponderate risks, he should try :

1) Bealham
2) Heffernan
3) Carey
4) Roux
5) SOB
6) Dillane
7) Heenan
8 ) Muldoon
9) Cooney
10) Carty
11) Poolman
12) Robb
13) Aki
14) Niyi
15) TOH

16) Delahunt
17) Loughney
18) O'Donnell
19) Browne/Cannon
20) McKeon/Connolly
21) Marmion/Blade
22) Ronaldson/SOL
23) Kelleher

19/20/21/22 first choice subject to availability, if not, 2nd name indicated

Yeah, risky but could be a real advantage to have straight in
Cooney (speed recycling)
SOB+Browne or Cannon (physicality and lineout issues)
O'Donnell (scrummage)
Poolman (experience and defence in the back-line)
Bealham at emergency LH (Joe trusted him there, Carey can do the job on the other side)

BrokenMan

connachta wrote: »

We're unlucky but not decimated

If Lam takes ponderate risks, he should try :

1) Bealham
2) Heffernan
3) Carey
4) Roux
5) SOB
6) Dillane
7) Heenan
8 ) Muldoon
9) Cooney
10) Carty
11) Poolman
12) Robb
13) Aki
14) Niyi
15) TOH

16) Delahunt
17) Loughney
18) O'Donnell
19) Browne/Cannon
20) McKeon/Connolly
21) Marmion/Blade
22) Ronaldson/SOL
23) Kelleher

19/20/21/22 first choice subject to availability, if not, 2nd name indicated

Yeah, risky but could be a real advantage to have straight in
Cooney (speed recycling)
SOB+Browne or Cannon (physicality and lineout issues)
O'Donnell (scrummage)
Poolman (experience and defence in the back-line)
Bealham at emergency LH (Joe trusted him there, Carey can do the job on the other side)

Why SOB at 5 and Dillane at 6? Other way around would make more sense to me.
Marmion hasnt been ruled out yet I think so there's a chance he will be fit.
Kelleher might get the nod ahead of Poolman but wouldnt worry either way

connemara man

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/783291061833723904?s=09

I like it

wp_rathead

that actually looks pretty damn tasty with the black, dark blue and lime/neon green

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/783290603119443968

BrokenMan

Very nice

flogthebog

Reading the indo today there were 6 connacht players at Irish camp earlier this week. With matt, Buckley out then we have Finlay, Kieran, ultan, Quinn and tiernan. So then i guess niyi (how good would that be). It would seem a logical conclusion?

wp_rathead

After losing Andre Bell over the summer, Blues confirm that Dave Ellis will be returning to NZ next season

That's gonna be a massive loss

edit: apparently he is gone before end of the season, which is even worse

connemara man

Connacht really have been gutted over the past few months.

2 coaches is big imo and then between retirements and players going there's a leadership drought IMO there.

Muldoon, McCartney, Aki, are carrying the team and Aki can only do that when he's in form.

flogthebog

connemara man wrote: »

Connacht really have been gutted over the past few months.

2 coaches is big imo and then between retirements and players going there's a leadership drought IMO there.

Muldoon, McCartney, Aki, are carrying the team and Aki can only do that when he's in form.

I would argue Aki as leader

connemara man

flogthebog wrote: »

I would argue Aki as leader

By all accounts Bundee was a central leader last season. I personally think he's not in form this year so not giving/able to give to the team like he was

Cathalthesmart

flogthebog wrote: »

Reading the indo today there were 6 connacht players at Irish camp earlier this week. With matt, Buckley out then we have Finlay, Kieran, ultan, Quinn and tiernan. So then i guess niyi (how good would that be). It would seem a logical conclusion?

I think it could be Kelleher, he has been in Schmidt's Ireland camps before + a lot of wingers are there Joe to pick from even Sweetnam who's been immense (Arguably the best winger this season in Ireland) only got in because D.Kearney and McFadden where injured.

flogthebog

connemara man wrote: »

By all accounts Bundee was a central leader last season. I personally think he's not in form this year so not giving/able to give to the team like he was

bundee is a talisman, john, tom and tiernan are leaders as suggested by their captaincy. very different and credit to tom on how he has built such a level of respect in such a short space of time

swiwi_

Your NZ skills coach from 2015 has signed for the Blues. A good piece of business by Umaga based on Connacht's enterprising play last season.

connachta

Seems to be Niyi iin the Irish camp. Even with Healy/Leader out, I'm not worried yet for winger Kelleher/Rowland/Poolman/Ili/Parata/O'Keefe can do the job for November
2nd row will be Browne/Cannon/SOB, if there's no more injury we're just ok
Cooney/Kerrins much needed for SH
Props worries me a lot more, as long as I've got no news of Buckley. Without Bealham, young 20 y-o O'Donnell may have to step up. McCoy due early November, hope he'll make it..

ionadnapokot

wp_rathead wrote: »

After losing Andre Bell over the summer, Blues confirm that Dave Ellis will be returning to NZ next season

That's gonna be a massive loss

edit: apparently he is gone before end of the season, which is even worse

Jesus. Massive loss alright. No one man is responsible for what has been achieved by Connacht over the last three years but he has been integral to the playing culture.

RobbieRuns

I will go as far to say that I am more gutted about Ellis leaving than Robbie !!!! He is an outstanding coach and did a fantastic job. Real shame

Bazzo

Ellis is a huge loss. The improvement of handling and skills under him has been impressive. He's been mentioned in so many of the player interviews I've read too so he was obviously well respected and thought of as an integral part of the coaching ticket.

Hopefully the culture he helped instill carries on after he's left.

testtech05

Didnt see this posted apologies if someone else posted already but confirmed that Niyi was in the training camp with Ireland this week.
http://www.the42.ie/adeolokun-ireland-joe-schmidt-2016-3010545-Oct2016/

Shelflife

Niyi is my Lions bolter !!

FACECUTTR

Shelflife wrote: »

Niyi is my Lions bolter !!

+1

ki

Shelflife wrote: »

Niyi is my Lions bolter !!

It would be great for him. But outside of Niyi who else will even get a mention?

Healy? Dillane?

RobbieRuns

Dillane !

Redo91

Shelflife wrote: »

Niyi is my Lions bolter !!

Ultan is mine. Keep meaning to go into PP and see if they are offering odds on it.

Robbo

Den Buckley for the Lions.

Also, does anyone have a nice easily printed fixture list floating around?

Evil_g

Robbo wrote: »

Den Buckley for the Lions.

Also, does anyone have a nice easily printed fixture list floating around?

Evil_G's time to shine.

(Made it for my girlfriend - green means I have to be in Galway, dark green means I definitely have to be in Galway)

Connacht Fixture List.jpg

Robbo

Much obliged, Evil_g.

aperture_nuig

Evil_g wrote: »

Evil_G's time to shine.

(Made it for my girlfriend - green means I have to be in Galway, dark green means I definitely have to be in Galway)

Connacht Fixture List.jpg

You seem to be missing the dates for the Pro12 playoffs & final there :cool:

MarinersBlues

aperture_nuig wrote: »

You seem to be missing the dates for the Pro12 playoffs & final there :cool:

Knock Out Champions Cup is faaarrrr more likely at this stage.

Evil_g

aperture_nuig wrote: »

You seem to be missing the dates for the Pro12 playoffs & final there :cool:

I was negotiating shore leave.

I'm hardly going to include the unforeseen special occasions that it would be entirely unreasonable to expect me to miss.

BeardySi

I know there's a few Connacht fans knocking about nordieland, anybody up for watching the match somewhere in Belfast tomorrow eve? Would be nice to not be the only green shirt in the bar for once!

molloyjh

connachta

Youhooo!
Pat listened to me about Bealham 1 Carey 3
happy Ronaldson is back to take the tee, will lighten Carty's burden
fell bad for Robb though

ki

connachta wrote: »

Youhooo!
Pat listened to me about Bealham 1 Carey 3
happy Ronaldson is back to take the tee, will lighten Carty's burden
fell bad for Robb though

+1 on seeing Ronaldson back.

We have Stacey Ili on the bench - it would be good to see how good he is or is not the best backline in the competition - IMO

A new scrum half too. I like Blade but he needs a little pressure on him for the second scrumhalf spot, he has stalled a little in his development.

Utopia Parkway

molloyjh wrote: »

Not a bad side considering the injuries. I'm never confident going against Ulster though. We always seem to find a way to lose to them.

Not sure about Blade. Last couple times I saw him I thought his service was a bit too slow and passes too lofted. Big challenge for him to step up.

connachta

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Not sure about Blade. Last couple times I saw him I thought his service was a bit too slow and passes too lofted. Big challenge for him to step up.

That's why I'd have prefered Ron/Rob/Aki, to compensate slow balls by midfield physicality

RobbieRuns

Is Eoin Griffin injured?

wp_rathead

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Is Eoin Griffin injured?

he is i think..
but he also started the season rather poorly (wasn't alone mind)
Ronaldson-Aki is probably our strongest centre combination and will be the default pairing when both fit I say
and then we also have Robb and Parata to challenge for centre spot with him

connachta

Well, we all noticed Heff, Kell and Blade as unexpectedly luxury cover for McCartney, Healy and Marms, which is great
But what is even greater for Toulouse is that I think Ronaldson, in his comeback after 6 months, already shown how much stability he adds in midfield. Same for Brownie in 2nd row
Carey confirmed being ok, SOB was clearly available as 24th man, which is good timing, as McKeon needs a proper rest
Great to see Lam having a bit of headache to come for Toulouse between Robb/Ronaldson/Griff, Marmion/Blade/Cooney, and Roux/Browne

Bazzo

Apparently Robb pulled up in the captain's run yesterday which is why Ronaldson ended up starting at 12.

I'm not complaining, thought he added a lot and didn't look to be blowing too hard for a guy who played 80 mins coming back from a 6(?) month layoff.

connachta

Bazzo wrote: »

Apparently Robb pulled up in the captain's run yesterday which is why Ronaldson ended up starting at 12.

I'm not complaining, thought he added a lot and didn't look to be blowing to hard for a guy who played 80 mins coming back from a 6(?) month layoff.

Read that, but Robb isn't ruled out for Toulouse, is he?

Bazzo

connachta wrote: »

Read that, but Robb isn't ruled out for Toulouse, is he?

Unless somebody around Galway hears something we won't know more until the squad update during the week unfortunately.

RobbieRuns

Enjoyed that evening........

Bazzo

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Enjoyed that evening........

11.44pm? :eek:

Presume you're just calling in to the house to change from the jersey into a shirt?

RobbieRuns

Bazzo wrote: »

11.44pm? :eek:

Presume you're just calling in to the house to change from the jersey into a shirt?

Deodorant on and good to go......:rolleyes:

gavkm27

well thinking ahead to next week we have an extra day and we're still at home ,Toulouse are away to league leaders Clermont on sunday and a 6 day turn around including travelling here ,good advantage already