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

connachta

I'm following the Wasps forum for two weeks, and they seem to agree about the quality expectable 

"playing, this season and last, the best rugby in the Celtic league and the AP. Connacht worry me because of that but it could be a cracking double header"

connachta

Jackman applies but doesn't seem to believe in it
http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2016/1208/837586-jackman-interested-in-speaking-to-connacht/

Diabhal Beag

I can only imagine any sort of courtesy meeting Willie Ruane has with Eddie O'Sullivan going a little something like this:

Clegg

Not sure Jackman would be the best option for Connacht tbh. Grenoble are struggling badly this season.

typhoony

rumours are that Cipriani is out but Kurtley Beale will play.

the bookies have us 15 points behind in the handicap, are we really that bad

still think we will surprise them at scrumtime and also get our maul going. I know that's not our game anymore, good weather over there should help running rugby if that's the way we decide to play.

even a LBP would be huge and set us up nicely for the following week

b.gud

Since there's only a couple of hundred posts left before the next thread starts maybe suggest the following title

Connacht Rugby Thread - Part IV - Reigning Champions

b.gud

Since there's only a couple of hundred posts left before the next thread starts maybe suggest the following title

Connacht Rugby Thread - Part IV - Reigning Champions

FACECUTTR

typhoony wrote: »

rumours are that Cipriani is out but Kurtley Beale will play.


Will that be Gopperth at 10 and Beale to 12 or vice versa ?
Starting after being so long out would be strange but they have a big injury list. He will be rusty.

Bazzo

b.gud wrote: »

Since there's only a couple of hundred posts left before the next thread starts maybe suggest the following title

Connacht Rugby Thread - Part IV - Reigning Champions

Connacht Rugby Thread - Part IV -Just Another Manic Bundee

connemara man

b.gud wrote: »

Since there's only a couple of hundred posts left before the next thread starts maybe suggest the following title

Connacht Rugby Thread - Part IV - Reigning Champions

Not the sorrow of the lams?

Neil3030

How about the "Connacht Rugby Thread - Part IV: The Ex-Pats"

It works on two levels because your players are all filthy foreign mercenaries :pac:

connachta

Neil3030 wrote: »

How about the "Connacht Rugby Thread - Part IV: The Ex-Pats"

It works on two levels because your players are all filthy foreign mercenaries :pac:

Have to admit it's a good play on words. No more mercenaries than the other provinces, but still funny

Mr Tickle

b.gud wrote: »

Since there's only a couple of hundred posts left before the next thread starts maybe suggest the following title

Connacht Rugby Thread - Part IV - Reigning Champions

It's connacht. Surely it should be "The Raining Champions"

connachta

Daily Mail suggesting Beale on the bench. So 10. Gops 12. Leiua 13. Macken planned on the Wasps forum.
We can be harmful in midfield

Look I don't wanna give the impression that I'm optimistic but before sleep, I remembered

Have we got our main front-row fully available? Yes, we have!
Have we got an International lock pairing available? Yes, we have!
Have we got more quality back-rowers than we can put on a single teamsheet ? Yes, we have!
Are we the wealthiest province when you consider scrum-halfs ? Yes, we are!
Have we got Pro12 man of the year in midfield? Yes, we have!
Have we got an all-international back-3, whoever of Cian/Matt plays? Yes, we have!

So I dare say (except if Ili/Robb/O'Leary have a nightmare), for once, if we lose, the injury excuse doesn't stand anymore:D

b.gud

Bazzo wrote: »

Connacht Rugby Thread - Part IV -Just Another Manic Bundee

Yeah that's way better than mine

CMOTDibbler

connemara man wrote: »

Not the sorrow of the lams?

Hmmm...

The resiling of the Lams?

freyners

Bazzo wrote: »

Connacht Rugby Thread - Part IV -Just Another Manic Bundee

Zzippy

connachta wrote: »

Daily Mail suggesting Beale on the bench. So 10. Gops 12. Leiua 13. Macken planned on the Wasps forum.
We can be harmful in midfield

Look I don't wanna give the impression that I'm optimistic but before sleep, I remembered

Have we got our main front-row fully available? Yes, we have!
Have we got an International lock pairing available? Yes, we have!
Have we got more quality back-rowers than we can put on a single teamsheet ? Yes, we have!
Are we the wealthiest province when you consider scrum-halfs ? Yes, we are!
Have we got Pro12 man of the year in midfield? Yes, we have!
Have we got an all-international back-3, whoever of Cian/Matt plays? Yes, we have!

So I dare say (except if Ili/Robb/O'Leary have a nightmare), for once, if we lose, the injury excuse doesn't stand anymore:D

Right, enough of this! Who are you, you imposter, and what have you done with Connachta???

jam83

If anyone has a spare ticket for the wasps game I'd gladly take it.
Have a season ticket but need a ticket for anywhere.
Games fully sold out.
Thanks

connachta

Zzippy wrote: »

connachta wrote: »

Daily Mail suggesting Beale on the bench. So 10. Gops 12. Leiua 13. Macken planned on the Wasps forum.
We can be harmful in midfield

Look I don't wanna give the impression that I'm optimistic but before sleep, I remembered

Have we got our main front-row fully available? Yes, we have!
Have we got an International lock pairing available? Yes, we have!
Have we got more quality back-rowers than we can put on a single teamsheet ? Yes, we have!
Are we the wealthiest province when you consider scrum-halfs ? Yes, we are!
Have we got Pro12 man of the year in midfield? Yes, we have!
Have we got an all-international back-3, whoever of Cian/Matt plays? Yes, we have!

So I dare say (except if Ili/Robb/O'Leary have a nightmare), for once, if we lose, the injury excuse doesn't stand anymore:D

Right, enough of this! Who are you, you imposter, and what have you done with Connachta???

That's why I precised "I don't wanna give the impression that I'm optimistic". You know, crazy thinking in your bed at 11PM can lead you to approach temporarily those dark areas of "belief and hope"

irishbucsfan

connachta wrote: »

You know, crazy thinking in your bed at 11PM can lead you to approach temporarily those dark areas of "belief and hope"

You should tell this to Awec

connachta

irishbucsfan wrote: »

connachta wrote: »

You know, crazy thinking in your bed at 11PM can lead you to approach temporarily those dark areas of "belief and hope"

You should tell this to Awec

I guess he's stronger than I am, to resist the siren call of being sometimes enthusiatic

b.gud

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-team-to-face-wasps/#ConnachtNews


Connacht team to face Wasps

Sunday December 11th, kick off 13:00, Ricoh Arena

(Connacht caps in brackets)

15 Tiernan O’Halloran (111)
14 Niyi Adeolokun (42)
13 Stacey Ili (7)
12 Bundee Aki (51)
11 Cian Kelleher (10)
10 Jack Carty (65)
9 Kieran Marmion (109)

1 Denis Buckley (101)
2 Tom McCartney (49)
3 Conor Carey (8)
4 Ultan Dillane (34)
5 Quinn Roux (40)
6 Nepia Fox-Matamua (11)
7 Jake Heenan (43)
8 John Muldoon (captain) (286)

Replacements:

16 Dave Heffernan (67)
17 JP Cooney (37)
18 Finlay Bealham (65)
19 Sean O’Brien (23)
20 Eoin McKeon (95)
21 Caolin Blade
22 Rory Parata (19)
23 Peter Robb (22)

Injured: Ronan Loughney, Ivan Soroka, Conan O’Donnell, Ben Marshall, Andrew Browne, Eoghan Masterson, John Cooney*, Marnitz Boshoff, Shane O’Leary, Craig Ronaldson, Eoin Griffin, Josh Rowland, Darragh Leader.

*John Cooney was a late withdrawal from the side having suffered a minor quad strain in training this week.

Unavailable: James Cannon**

**As part of his new contract and release deal from Wasps, second row James Cannon is not permitted to play in the Champions Cup fixtures against Wasps.

connachta

yeah good
but dislike Cannon contract clause, and no Cooney to kick

connachta

Wasps team to face Connacht this Sunday at the Ricoh Arena, kick off 1pm
15. Rob Miller
14. Christian Wade
13. Alapati Leiua
12. Kurtley Beale
11. Josh Bassett
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Dan Robson
1. Matt Mullan 
2. Tommy Taylor
3. Marty Moore 
4. Joe Launchbury ©
5. Kearnan Myall 
6. Ashley Johnson
7. Thomas Young
8. Nathan Hughes

Replacements
16. Alex Rieder
17. Tom Bristow
18. Jake Cooper-Woolley
19. James Gaskell
20. Guy Thompson
21. Joe Simpson
22. Brendan Macken
23. Frank Halai

KBurke85

connachta wrote: »

yeah good
but dislike Cannon contract clause, and no Cooney to kick

It's fine we'll kick to the corner, and get four tries from the maul. Simples

KBurke85

Good that Finlay can come off the bench as our scrum went to muck last week after the starting front row went off.

connachta

KBurke85 wrote: »

connachta wrote: »

yeah good
but dislike Cannon contract clause, and no Cooney to kick

It's fine we'll kick to the corner, and get four tries from the maul. Simples

No other strategy indeed, can see something like a 51-27 scorline, with a TBP in the pocket

wp_rathead

KBurke85 wrote: »

Good that Finlay can come off the bench as our scrum went to muck last week after the starting front row went off.

Surely Finlay will be starting?

connachta

KBurke85 wrote: »

Good that Finlay can come off the bench as our scrum went to muck last week after the starting front row went off.

But big ask for Carey...

connemara man

wp_rathead wrote: »

Surely Finlay will be starting?

Finlay on the bench is the only odd call I see

connachta

wp_rathead wrote: »

KBurke85 wrote: »

Good that Finlay can come off the bench as our scrum went to muck last week after the starting front row went off.

Surely Finlay will be starting?

team on the previous page. He's not

KBurke85

connemara man wrote: »

Finlay on the bench is the only odd call I see

Not if you saw the performance of the front row last week after the starters went off

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

wp_rathead wrote: »

Surely Finlay will be starting?

Finlay on the bench is the only odd call I see

Really? Parata as 22, and TOH to cover kicking duties is not odd?
If I were Wasps back-rower, I'd "target" Carty all day long.They does not seem to have decent cover for Gopp either though, we should do the same

Mr Tickle

connachta wrote: »

yeah good
but dislike Cannon contract clause, and no Cooney to kick

ok now i see the benefit of removing o'leary from the squad :pac:

connachta

Mr Tickle wrote: »

connachta wrote: »

yeah good
but dislike Cannon contract clause, and no Cooney to kick

ok now i see the benefit of removing o'leary from the squad :pac:

Thank you. Too late. Huge bet from Lam. Could pay off if Carty holds for 80 min though

connemara man

connachta wrote: »

Really? Parata as 22, and TOH to cover kicking duties is not odd?
If I were Wasps back-rower, I'd "target" Carty all day long.They does not seem to have decent cover for Gopp either though, we should do the same

That's not a decision really that's enforced through injury or European squad selection

And re Carey and Bealham Carey would be a good sub as well I'm just surprised Bealham isn't starting

Mr Tickle

connachta wrote: »

Really? Parata as 22, and TOH to cover kicking duties is not odd?

Has Parata ever played 10 for you before? I wonder if it came to it would TOH just be kicking or would he actually move in to play 10? (kelleher to go to full back and either Ili or Parata on the wing)

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

connachta wrote: »

Really? Parata as 22, and TOH to cover kicking duties is not odd?
If I were Wasps back-rower, I'd "target" Carty all day long.They does not seem to have decent cover for Gopp either though, we should do the same

That's not a decision really that's enforced through injury or European squad selection

McKeon could have been added until tuesday. Rely on Cooney was a risk. And didn't help to cover 22 btw

connachta

Mr Tickle wrote: »

connachta wrote: »

Really? Parata as 22, and TOH to cover kicking duties is not odd?

Has Parata ever played 10 for you before? I wonder if it came to it would TOH just be kicking or would he actually move in to play 10? (kelleher to go to full back and either Ili or Parata on the wing)

Depends on who have the better passing distribution I guess...Opinions?

connemara man

connachta wrote: »

McKeon could have been added until tuesday. Rely on Cooney was a risk. And didn't help to cover 22 btw

Who should have been dropped from the European squad then? Ronaldson of Boschoff


If Carty gets injured it'll be TOH into 10 Kelleher to 15 Ili to the wing and Robb or Parata to centre

wp_rathead

Zzippy wrote: »

Right, enough of this! Who are you, you imposter, and what have you done with Connachta???

Back again anyway:

connachta wrote: »

McKeon could have been added until tuesday. Rely on Cooney was a risk. And didn't help to cover 22 btw

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

connachta wrote: »

McKeon could have been added until tuesday. Rely on Cooney was a risk. And didn't help to cover 22 btw

Who should have been dropped from the European squad then? Ronaldson of Boschoff

O'Leary!

connachta

wp_rathead wrote: »

Zzippy wrote: »

Right, enough of this! Who are you, you imposter, and what have you done with Connachta???

Back again anyway:

connachta wrote: »

McKeon could have been added until tuesday. Rely on Cooney was a risk. And didn't help to cover 22 btw

Oh come on, I'm consistant with my warning earlier this week, don't tell me you're ok with TOH  as 10 if Carty goes off

Evil_g

Off topic, but were you at the match last week Connachta?

We got chatting to a French Connacht supporter on the way to the ground and there can't be too many of ye.

wp_rathead

connachta wrote: »

Oh come on, I'm consistant with my warning earlier this week, don't tell me you're ok with TOH  as 10 if Carty goes off

I understand your concern, but Jack has often played full 80 mins. If he does get injured, Que Sera Sera
And at least TOH does have (somewhat limited) experience playing there - Henshaw played 10 against Grenoble never being out half
I trust Lam

CMOTDibbler

Evil_g wrote: »

Off topic, but were you at the match last week Connachta?

We got chatting to a French Connacht supporter on the way to the ground and there can't be too many of ye.

That explains a lot.

connachta

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

That explains a lot.

Wasn't me. Explain what? are you doubting about my support? or you're just saying that for the pessimism

connachta

connemara man wrote: »

wp_rathead wrote: »

Surely Finlay will be starting?

Finlay on the bench is the only odd call I see

Robb/Parata prefered to Poolman/Healy (not listed as injured) is a real 50/50 choice too. Youth over experience

CMOTDibbler

connachta wrote: »

Wasn't me. Explain what? are you doubting about my support? or you're just saying that for the pessimism

The French bit.