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

flouncer

On the first day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A recording of our win against Munster

On the second day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
Good weather for the Ulster game

On the third day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A report on a famous victory

On the fourth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A clean bill of health for the team

On the fifth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
News of multiple player call ups to the international squad

On the sixth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
News that Jake Heenan is fit

On the seventh day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A hugely exciting lineout for the Leinster game

On the eighth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A limousine to the game

On the ninth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A DVD of another famous win

On the tenth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
Another clean bill of health for the team

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A new green lantern outfit

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A promise to win the Pro12 and the Challenge Cup

And that's why my province is the bestest :-)

connachta

flouncer wrote: »

On the first day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A recording of our win against Munster

On the second day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
Good weather for the Ulster game

On the third day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A report on a famous victory

On the fourth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A clean bill of health for the team

On the fifth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
News of multiple player call ups to the international squad

On the sixth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
News that Jake Heenan is fit

On the seventh day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A hugely exciting lineout for the Leinster game

On the eighth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A limousine to the game

On the ninth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A DVD of another famous win

On the tenth day of Christmas
my true province sent to me:
Another clean bill of health for the team

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A new green lantern outfit

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A promise to win the Pro12 and the Challenge Cup

And that's why my province is the bestest :-)

lovely!:)

maoriincork

flouncer wrote: »

On the first day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A recording of our win against Munster

On the second day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
Good weather for the Ulster game

On the third day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A report on a famous victory

On the fourth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A clean bill of health for the team

On the fifth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
News of multiple player call ups to the international squad

On the sixth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
News that Jake Heenan is fit

On the seventh day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A hugely exciting lineout for the Leinster game

On the eighth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A limousine to the game

On the ninth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A DVD of another famous win

On the tenth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
Another clean bill of health for the team

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A new green lantern outfit

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A promise to win the Pro12 and the Challenge Cup

And that's why my province is the bestest :-)

To good Flouncer.

flouncer

maoriincork wrote: »

To good Flouncer.

More a poet than a rugby analyst but I try to be both :-). And my poetry sucks :-)

jacothelad

flouncer wrote: »

On the first day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A recording of our win against Munster

On the second day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
Good weather for the Ulster game

On the third day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A report on a famous victory

On the fourth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A clean bill of health for the team

On the fifth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
News of multiple player call ups to the international squad

On the sixth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
News that Jake Heenan is fit

On the seventh day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A hugely exciting lineout for the Leinster game

On the eighth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A limousine to the game

On the ninth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A DVD of another famous win

On the tenth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
Another clean bill of health for the team

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A new green lantern outfit

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my province sent to me:
A promise to win the Pro12 and the Challenge Cup

And that's why my province is the bestest :-)

On the thirteenth day of Christmas
my province sent me to:
A secure facility with a rubber room...:D:D:D:D

tiger_cub

Take what you may from it but George N's wife posted a group pic on her instagram and used the hashtag #goinftomisstheAhyous!

Zzippy

tiger_cub wrote: »

Take what you may from it but George N's wife posted a group pic on her instagram and used the hashtag #goinftomisstheAhyous!

She was being ironic. Rodney's family obviously spent Christmas Day with the Naoupus and there's no food left...

flouncer

jacothelad wrote: »

On the thirteenth day of Christmas
my province sent me to:
A secure facility with a rubber room...:D:D:D:D

do i get a chance to post my ruminations from said rubber room :-).

RobbieRuns

tiger_cub wrote: »

Take what you may from it but George N's wife posted a group pic on her instagram and used the hashtag #goinftomisstheAhyous!

George North is coming to Galway !!!!!! Get in there.

Poor fare.

Cant be missing penalties like that, not two in a row.
Changes the complexity of the game completely.

Id be a bit worried based on the last few seasons, results have slumped historically and this run isn't helping away from that.

Utopia Parkway

Sickened with that. We never seem to perform against Ulster for whatever reason. Last season our results really begun to drop away in January. Hope we're not getting a repeat this season.

2 awful misses from Ronaldson. Have to be nailing those. Especially with very little wind out.

flouncer

me province let me down. we lost. and then you understand that your province can never let you down because they are YOUR PROVINCE. connacht will always be the best province BECAUSE I think so.

jacothelad

flouncer wrote: »

me province let me down. we lost. and then you understand that your province can never let you down because they are YOUR PROVINCE. connacht will always be the best province BECAUSE I think so.

100%

oneofakind32

Pat Lam said it well in the post game interview, "You cant fault the boys for lack of effort". Ronald sons 2 pen misses were bad but it wouldn't have been enough to win the game. Bundi Aki was quite through, was expecting a bit more from him.

No injuries and an LBP, I'll take it. Hopefully we'll get a couple more lads back for next weekend.

flouncer

Probably the most disappointing thing about the game was poor performances by both carty and McGinty. That is a concern for next week. Denis is always a huge loss and is simply hard to replace. Poolman could possibly be back and parata could be in line for a start on the other wing. Its so hard to call the team these days.

Borders no.2

oneofakind32 wrote: »

Pat Lam said it well in the post game interview, "You cant fault the boys for lack of effort". Ronald sons 2 pen misses were bad but it wouldn't have been enough to win the game. Bundi Aki was quite through, was expecting a bit more from him.

No injuries and an LBP, I'll take it. Hopefully we'll get a couple more lads back for next weekend.

It very easily may have been enough to win the game. Ok in theory 6 points brings it to 9-10 but scores dictate the way the game goes. After Ronaldson's first miss, we turned our back and let Ulster up to our 22 with their first real threat of the half. The lineout went bad and we eventually conceded a penalty so that was a 6 point swing straight away. The penalty in the 2nd half was deflating as it came after a lot of donkey work up against a brick wall Ulster defence.

If we were leading near the finish it's a different mentality and MacGinty may not have been forcing the distance on the penalty to touch.

Another disappointment near the end was Tiernan O'Halloran kicking to touch with his left foot when he had time to get back on his right, it got Ulster field position when we could have got it back down in their half.

Either way it's water under the bridge and we have to try and learn from last night and pick up the pieces next Friday.

connachta

So 12 rounds to go (or so, with postponed games)
I've got spare time to anticipate the classification, with reasonable results to come

Scarlets 36 points
minimum + 23 = 59 points
max + 42 = 78 points
average 69 points

Connacht 34 points
minimum + 4 (yeah it could well happen seeing the schedule) = 38 points
max +39 = 73 points
average = 55 points

Leinster 31 points
max + 47 = 78 points
minimum +22 = 54 points
average 66 points

Munster 28 points
max + 40 = 68 points
min + 32 = 60 points
average 64 points

Glasgow 26 points
min + 27 = 53 points
max + 44 70 points
average 61 points


Edinburgh 28 points
min + 13 = 41 points
max + 33 = 61 points
average 51 points

Ospreys 24 points
maximum + 44 = 68 points
minimun + 20 = 44 points
average 56 points


So IMO we're screwed as 7th, once again, as I said earlier
That's why Shingler missed kick hurt me yesterday, and Glasgow loss today gave me just a bit of hope
As expected Connacht home games against Ospreys and Glasgow should be decisive. If Buckley Heenan and Henshaw are there, it may be ok...

flouncer

Borders no.2 wrote: »

Another disappointment near the end was Tiernan O'Halloran kicking to touch with his left foot when he had time to get back on his right, it got Ulster field position when we could have got it back down in their half..

Now that's an interesting interpretation. He kicked a ball with his left foot to the 10m line from inside his 22. What did you want him to do. Maybe dropkick 3 points instead. Just looked at the setanta replay. Other than the one kick for touch that McGinty missed he was very very decent. I know I so boringly dislike jack but aj did just fine.

And I am with Connachta that Healy and niyi are exciting but very poor tacklers. So I would be happy to see a toh, poolman, aki, ronaldson, parata, McGinty, marmion backline.

connachta

flouncer wrote: »

Now that's an interesting interpretation. He kicked a ball with his left foot to the 10m line from inside his 22. What did you want him to do. Maybe dropkick 3 points instead. Just looked at the setanta replay. Other than the one kick for touch that McGinty missed he was very very decent. I know I so boringly dislike jack but aj did just fine.

And I am with Connachta that Healy and niyi are exciting but very poor tacklers. So I would be happy to see a toh, poolman, aki, ronaldson, parata, McGinty, marmion backline.

Put Henshaw instead of Ronaldson and I agree

oneofakind32

Borders no.2 wrote: »

It very easily may have been enough to win the game. Ok in theory 6 points brings it to 9-10 but scores dictate the way the game.

If anything scoring those 2 penalties in the first half would have made Ulster hungrier for the try. We could have gone for more drop goals in the game but but it's easy to say that in hindsight.

oneofakind32

connachta wrote: »

Connacht 34 points
minimum + 4 (yeah it could well happen seeing the schedule) = 38 points

I think you are forgetting about a little tournament called the 6 Nations. Away to Zebre, home to Ospreys, away to Edinburgh. We have got to win those.

connachta

oneofakind32 wrote: »

I think you are forgetting about a little tournament called the 6 Nations. Away to Zebre, home to Ospreys, away to Edinburgh. We have got to win those.

But despite 6 nations we might lose 2 of theese

flouncer

connachta wrote: »

But despite 6 nations we might lose 2 of theese

And this is where I disagree with you connachta. How can you even think that with the ability we have in our team. Yes we may have lost against ulster but we learnt. Won't happen again. And this I believe

oneofakind32

flouncer wrote: »

And this is where I disagree with you connachta. How can you even think that with the ability we have in our team. Yes we may have lost against ulster but we learnt. Won't happen again. And this I believe

Agreed, we lost a tight game to a an inform Ulster team. I don't think we have returned to the dark days just yet.

Borders no.2

oneofakind32 wrote: »

If anything scoring those 2 penalties in the first half would have made Ulster hungrier for the try. We could have gone for more drop goals in the game but but it's easy to say that in hindsight.

Fair enough that may be true and it's all ifs and buts as you say. In my opinion they were big momentum shifts as was the failure to collect any points from incessant pressure at the state. There were only a couple of clear cut opportunities on both sides for tries. Kicking was always going to play a significant role in the final result of a game where defences were generally on top.

flouncer wrote: »

Now that's an interesting interpretation. He kicked a ball with his left foot to the 10m line from inside his 22. What did you want him to do. Maybe dropkick 3 points instead.

In a game of small margins we lost the territory game very very badly in the last 10 minutes. Marshall came on and did as he always does in these type of situations. He kept his pack moving forward through nothing flash.

It's not a match defining mistake. It was only a small thing but if we are to push on we need to look at managing these situations better. He was in a good position in-field at the edge of his own 22. Looking at the situation clinically as to what we can learn, Niyi and Tiernan will know that we need to show more composure and manage that situation better and ensure that the ball should be going up to at a minimum in and around half way. That was a huge net gain for Ulster from that kicking exchange at a key juncture.

connachta

oneofakind32 wrote: »

Agreed, we lost a tight game to a an inform Ulster team. I don't think we have returned to the dark days just yet.

Not the darkest days, just possible defeat against Osp and Edinburgh away, even during 6 nation window.

connemara man

We're a young team. There's a naievity about them which you the difference in games like last night. Ie stop giving out about Nick Williams lieing on the wrong side of the ruck and legally rake him out of it. Play more rugby in the opposition half. We are trying to run way too much. We had a good maul and Ulster's lineout wasn't great either was ours but there was opportunity from it. John Muldoon has the great ability to get the refs against him. He's far to petulant and let's his emotions/frustrations get the better of him to have a good relationship with refs. Let him lead by example and let someone else talk to the ref

flouncer

Borders no.2 wrote: »

It's not a match defining mistake.

So my turn to say utter waffle

jacothelad

oneofakind32 wrote: »

I think you are forgetting about a little tournament called the 6 Nations. Away to Zebre, home to Ospreys, away to Edinburgh. We have got to win those.

Ulster....:D Unless you are suggesting that they end up down alongside Zebre and Treviso....but Lacey can't ref all Ulster's games.......;)

In the last 4 years it has taken 54, 55, 56 and 57 points to make 6th place. taking 57 as the target, I would expect Connacht to at least get 23 points from the remaining 12 games. Think of getting at least 2 bonus point wins out of the 12 and that leaves only 13 points to be got from 10 games. Easy Peasy.
Get 1 losing bonus v. Leinster,
5 points from back to back games v. Scarlets
4 away v. Dragons
5 away v. Zebre
4 at home v a weakened Ospreys during the 6 Nations.

That's 19 quite possible points and still 6 games to go. Think instead of a top 4 finish.

Away to Embra during the the 6 Ns.. Why not 4 points there?
At home to Ireland, sorry, Leinster during the 6 Ns. Why not WIN there? most of Ireland, sorry... again, I mean Leinster will be away in camp with Leinster..ooops...... I meant Ireland.
Munster at home.... not a real worry at the moment anyway.
You've even got a home game v. Treviso at the end of the season...a cert 5 pointer.

I don't get the fear and negativity. Connacht just lost a close game v. Ulster who have just doubled Toulouse who have just stuffed the bejingo out of Toulon.

I expect Connacht to hit about 65 or 66 points. Connacht can't do anything about what other teams achieve and need to do their own thing.

Funk It

flouncer wrote: »

And I am with Connachta that Healy and niyi are exciting but very poor tacklers.

I have to say that ive been impressed wirh the ferocity of Niyis tackles, doesn't hold anything back. Few monster hits yesterday, as well as getting creamed himself by Williams.

Zzippy

Funk It wrote: »

I have to say that ive been impressed wirh the ferocity of Niyis tackles, doesn't hold anything back. Few monster hits yesterday, as well as getting creamed himself by Williams.

He misses a few too by flying in and getting sidestepped. Can leave us wide open when he does it.

flouncer

Zzippy wrote: »

He misses a few too by flying in and getting sidestepped. Can leave us wide open when he does it.

zzippy. was that you agreeing with me :-)

thomond2006

Are you coming to the RDS on Friday flouncer?

flouncer

thomond2006 wrote: »

Are you coming to the RDS on Friday flouncer?

wouldnt miss it. will be there

flouncer

connemara man wrote: »

We're a young team. There's a naievity about them which you the difference in games like last night. Ie stop giving out about Nick Williams lieing on the wrong side of the ruck and legally rake him out of it. Play more rugby in the opposition half. We are trying to run way too much. We had a good maul and Ulster's lineout wasn't great either was ours but there was opportunity from it. John Muldoon has the great ability to get the refs against him. He's far to petulant and let's his emotions/frustrations get the better of him to have a good relationship with refs. Let him lead by example and let someone else talk to the ref

Yes we are a young team but yet not short of experience. Two years ago I would have agreed with this comment but we now have young experienced players (yes conolly, bealham, niyi, dillane may not have much time on the clock yet but most other young players have had a lot of game time).

Its also hard to be critical of our fast offload running game as that is exactly the game that beat Munster. I do accept that when its not working then you need to change it. Pitch and ball were very slippy which wasn't conducive to our style of play. So maybe we could have switched to a 10 playing positional rugby. But when does jack play that?

When all is said and done ulster are probably the strongest of the Leinster/Munster/ulster combo these days. We held our own against them. I have said that this year more than any other year we have closed out games. It can't happen all the time. This was one of those. No alarm bells as far as I can see

Bazzo

flouncer wrote: »

Yes we are a young team but yet not short of experience. Two years ago I would have agreed with this comment but we now have young experienced players (yes conolly, bealham, niyi, dillane may not have much time on the clock yet but most other young players have had a lot of game time).

Its also hard to be critical of our fast offload running game as that is exactly the game that beat Munster. I do accept that when its not working then you need to change it. Pitch and ball were very slippy which wasn't conducive to our style of play. So maybe we could have switched to a 10 playing positional rugby. But when does jack play that?

When all is said and done ulster are probably the strongest of the Leinster/Munster/ulster combo these days. We held our own against them. I have said that this year more than any other year we have closed out games. It can't happen all the time. This was one of those. No alarm bells as far as I can see

Flouncer, you're on a roll. Normally there isn't a chance of me agreeing with this many posts is a row. Have you considered taking up roulette.

connemara man

flouncer wrote: »

Yes we are a young team but yet not short of experience. Two years ago I would have agreed with this comment but we now have young experienced players (yes conolly, bealham, niyi, dillane may not have much time on the clock yet but most other young players have had a lot of game time).

Its also hard to be critical of our fast offload running game as that is exactly the game that beat Munster. I do accept that when its not working then you need to change it. Pitch and ball were very slippy which wasn't conducive to our style of play. So maybe we could have switched to a 10 playing positional rugby. But when does jack play that?

When all is said and done ulster are probably the strongest of the Leinster/Munster/ulster combo these days. We held our own against them. I have said that this year more than any other year we have closed out games. It can't happen all the time. This was one of those. No alarm bells as far as I can see

After the first 10 minutes where we controlled the game, Ulster got on top after us going to the corner twice in a row. They slowed down every line out, had a lot of Physio checks. This sort of guile was missing, and is missing from us at times. When Ulster were getting momentum where was a Connacht Player on a knee to stop play?
I love our style of rugby and its great to watch I'd just rather do it in the opposition half. And our best positional 10 was playing at 12 and for the record Ronaldson is the better 10 and
there's no alarm bells here just things we should be learning from.
It's one of the things the likes of Craig Clarke would have been perfect for, a proven winner showing young lads the dark arts. sadly that didn't work out and I'm glad he's looking after his health. Like imagine if we got Donncha O Callaghan for a season, might not be as good as current options but where he has come from would be a rich source of information.

MarinersBlues

http://m.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2015/1229/756627-henshaw/

More positive news on the injury front - well, not negative news anyway.

flouncer

connemara man wrote: »

After the first 10 minutes where we controlled the game, Ulster got on top after us going to the corner twice in a row. They slowed down every line out, had a lot of Physio checks. This sort of guile was missing, and is missing from us at times. When Ulster were getting momentum where was a Connacht Player on a knee to stop play?
I love our style of rugby and its great to watch I'd just rather do it in the opposition half. And our best positional 10 was playing at 12 and for the record Ronaldson is the better 10 and
there's no alarm bells here just things we should be learning from.
It's one of the things the likes of Craig Clarke would have been perfect for, a proven winner showing young lads the dark arts. sadly that didn't work out and I'm glad he's looking after his health. Like imagine if we got Donncha O Callaghan for a season, might not be as good as current options but where he has come from would be a rich source of information.

Agreed. However Pat has said that Craig and Bundee are his preferred partnership at centre so I can't see Jack being shifted. That said you would have to think Joe Schmidt would want to have Robbie playing some centre time before the 6n. As such Craig will either be benched or moved to 10. Have to admit would like to see a toh, danie, bundee, robbie, matt, craig, kieran combination. If I am correct we have never seen this lineup?

freyners

Munster last year? Or who was Fb that day?

flouncer

freyners wrote: »

Munster last year? Or who was Fb that day?

Dont think it was toh. Didnt he miss most of last season?

b.gud

Think Mils was fb in the new years day Munster game

Bazzo

b.gud wrote: »

Think Mils was fb in the new years day Munster game

Unfortunately the fact that we can't really remember if he was or not pretty much sums up his time at Connacht.

flouncer

Bazzo wrote: »

Unfortunately the fact that we can't really remember if he was or not pretty much sums up his time at Connacht.

give him a break. aki was always the signing. anybody who knew connacht knew this

connemara man

freyners wrote: »

Munster last year? Or who was Fb that day?

Leader was on the wing instead of Healy and Mils was fb

former total

Bazzo wrote: »

Unfortunately the fact that we can't really remember if he was or not pretty much sums up his time at Connacht.

Was he the worst overseas signing ever? In terms of value for money and hype vs delivery? Quite possibly. I know he was injured arriving but he was still woeful and got a huge wedge of cash.

flouncer

connemara man wrote: »

Leader was on the wing instead of Healy and Mils was fb

knew we had never fielded team suggested. thanks for that

connemara man

former total wrote: »

Was he the worst overseas signing ever? In terms of value for money and hype vs delivery? Quite possibly.

Definitely overpaid, for the amount and games he played.
But brought a public spotlight at the start of the season which drove ticket sales (no proof just opinion)
Was spoken very highly from the camp.

But overall not worth it? I dunno.. It's hard to tell if he hasn't left how he did (the circumstances and charges which he was cleared of) I'd say we'd have a far more positive view of his time

connemara man

flouncer wrote: »

knew we had never fielded team suggested. thanks for that

I'd love to see it. We'd be really hard to stop

freyners

former total wrote:

Was he the worst overseas signing ever? In terms of value for money and hype vs delivery? Quite possibly. I know he was injured arriving but he was still woeful and got a huge wedge of cash.

In terms of impact on the field. Hard to see another contender. He was very good in his first two games but dropped off after that

In terms of impact on the club in total. Not even close to the worst. Brand awareness wise he was huge. I believe it was our best year st wise. A lot if the young players give him a lot of credit but it could be the party line.

His time at the club was not great but I have the height of sympathy for him. Came in injured and left under what now is proven to be false allegations. At the very least he proved the club's ambition