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

Hagz

flouncer wrote: »

Madigans move would suggest otherwise

I'm not going to get into it any further but Madigan is in an entirely different scenario to O'Halloran and Healy.

connachta

former total wrote: »

To where?

They're both more talented than many french wingers

flouncer

While I know Denis is currently injured I am really gutted for him also. I simply am at a total loss with Joe's top 50. Yes the list is not published but most can have a decent guess. i am losing faith. If I were to suggest an open market in Ireland which team would turn down buckley, healy or o'halloran. and yet they don't compute with joe. i'm simply bewildered. I would suggest there is no point for any players with any aspirations playing with connacht anymore

typhoony

connachta wrote: »

Osp and Glasgow have both 7 games winnable, no more IMO (including they're gonna be impacted by 6 nations). We are 6 points ahead.
So we still have our destiny in our own hand with 6 wins including one of then at home, in one of the double header against direct opponent

Which would mean

Zebre and Benetton away
Scarlets home
One of Dragons/Edinburgh away
One of Munster/Leinster home
One of Ospreys/Glasgow home

Very few rights to make mistakes, but it's possible. The last 2 games may be the hardest (Treviso and Glasgow), the squad needs to be fit and fresh in April.

Here is my stab at predicting results...

not to sure about the 2 italian games.
winnable games...
Treviso
Scarlets
Edinburgh
Ospreys 1BP
Leinster 1BP

Loseable Games
Glasgow 1BP
Newport Gwent Dragons 1BP
Zebre 1BP
Munster 1BP
Ulster

26pts=60pts total

flouncer

typhoony wrote: »

Here is my stab at predicting results...

not to sure about the 2 italian games.
winnable games...
Treviso
Scarlets
Edinburgh
Ospreys 1BP
Leinster 1BP

Loseable Games
Glasgow 1BP
Newport Gwent Dragons 1BP
Zebre 1BP
Munster 1BP
Ulster

26pts=60pts total

going thru a huge batch of depression. who gives a crap. whats the point. all our improvements have scored zero. joe says we are ****e

Stheno

flouncer wrote: »

going thru a huge batch of depression. who gives a crap. whats the point. all our improvements have scored zero. joe says we are ****e

You'd five players at the squad session yesterday, how many was it last year? One?

CMOTDibbler

Stheno wrote: »

You'd five players at the squad session yesterday, how many was it last year? One?

New thread title: The bleating of the lams...





I'll get me coat :P

Stheno

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

New thread title: The whining of the lams...





I'll get me coat :P

FYP

flouncer

Stheno wrote: »

You'd five players at the squad session yesterday, how many was it last year? One?

Four to be exact. And for years I have cringed at henshaws boringness. Then marmion is one day good and most other days rubbish (recent leinster game an example). And then nathan is hitting the end of his career. I do welcome the mention of dillane but he would be about 8th choice at centre. So explain how things are better. Please suggest that there is a better loose head than buckley in the country, please suggest that Rob Kearney is a more interesting player than tiernan o'halloran at fullback

CMOTDibbler

flouncer wrote: »

Four to be exact. And for years I have cringed at henshaws boringness. Then marmion is one day good and most other days rubbish (recent leinster game an example). And then nathan is hitting the end of his career. I do welcome the mention of dillane but he would be about 8th choice at centre. So explain how things are better. Please suggest that there is a better loose head than buckley in the country, please suggest that Rob Kearney is a more interesting player than tiernan o'halloran at fullback

Buckley is injured. What is the point in bringing an injured player to a training camp?

Seriously. Is your glass always half empty? Even with all the rain in Connacht?

Stheno

flouncer wrote: »

Four to be exact. And for years I have cringed at henshaws boringness. Then marmion is one day good and most other days rubbish (recent leinster game an example). And then nathan is hitting the end of his career. I do welcome the mention of dillane but he would be about 8th choice at centre. So explain how things are better. Please suggest that there is a better loose head than buckley in the country, please suggest that Rob Kearney is a more interesting player than tiernan o'halloran at fullback

Have either Buckly or O'Halloran ever played at any level other than Interpros?

White is old, with younger players competing against him.
Henshaw is young, very young, and can be moulded to play a part in a national squad.

ClanofLams

Stheno wrote: »

FYP

Bit much to be considering flouncer representative of us all! Connacht supporters argue with him more than outsiders 😀

On topic Scarlets seem in a fairly similar place to Connacht at the moment with a fairly lengthy injury list at the moment and a couple of losses over Xmas before which they snuck out if Treviso with a two point win. Hopefully we can keep it very competitive this weekend and come back with a bonus point anyway.

Stheno

ClanofLams wrote: »

Bit much to be considering flouncer representative of us all! Connacht supporters argue with him more than outsiders 😀

I was being facetious in fairness. After Leinster, I'm a big Connaught fan, watch them as much as I can, and really hope this is their year to be in the top since in the Interpros

My OH LOVES Connaugt!

ClanofLams

Stheno wrote: »

Have either Buckly or O'Halloran ever played at any level other than Interpros?

Both have played Heineken Cup although I don't think that should be a necessity to being in the squad, Wales in particular have won plenty down the years with guys wig never played higher than Pro 12/Challenge Cup at club level.

I think Buckley would have been included had he been fit, he's been part of the training squad before and is playing better than ever this season. I'm a bit baffled at TO'Hs exclusion,he has been excellent this season. I guess Andrew Conway was there and Schmidt considers Kearney, Zebo and Conway sufficient for full back.

wp_rathead

Stheno wrote: »

Have either Buckly or O'Halloran ever played at any level other than Interpros?

Don't entirely understand your question Stenho?
If you mean have they played in Champions Cup
Tiernan has 12 Starts and 1 sub appearance in Heineken Cup
Buckley has about 9 appearances - can't get specifics cause he no longer in our European Squad

Stheno

ClanofLams wrote: »

Both have played Heineken Cup although I don't think that should be a necessity to being in the squad, Wales in particular have won plenty down the years with guys wig never played higher than Pro 12/Challenge Cup at club level.

I think Buckley would have been included had he been fit, he's been part of the training squad before and is playing better than ever this season. I'm a bit baffled at TO'Hs exclusion,he has been excellent this season. I guess Andrew Conway was there and Schmidt considers Kearney, Zebo and Conway sufficient for full back.

I genuinely didn't know they had both played HC tbh, so apologies for that.

Buckley being out injured is a valid reason to exclude him.

Haven't seen much of TOH, but Joe has a fair list of players for fullback that he'd be competing against including those you mentioned.

ClanofLams

Stheno wrote: »

Haven't seen much of TOH, but Joe has a fair list of players for fullback that he'd be competing against including those you mentioned.

True. I am only guessing about Conway being there but if he was it was essentially a shootout between him and TO'H, never gonna bring more than three and the first two were automatics.
Would have given TO'H the nod personally but that's with green tinted glasses to be fair.

flouncer

ClanofLams wrote: »

Bit much to be considering flouncer representative of us all! Connacht supporters argue with him more than outsiders

I like that :-)

gally74

connachta wrote: »

Masterson : 17 tackles 0 misses, 28 meters run, 1 defender beaten, no pen or turnover conceeded

Yep but not good enough for Joe, why I don't see the exact type of player that should be in the Irish setup as we build to 2019

Stheno

ClanofLams wrote: »

True. I am only guessing about Conway being there but if he was it was essentially a shootout between him and TO'H, never gonna bring more than three and the first two were automatics.
Would have given TO'H the nod personally but that's with green tinted glasses to be fair.

Even with blue/yellow tinted glasses (Leinster) on, I wonder at more than 21 at least of that group being from Leinster.

I'd have thought there was room there for Scholes (Ulster) and Muldowney (the big Connaught bearded player?) myself.

But hey, whom am I to question. Certain Muldowney has impressed me anytime I've seen him, more so than any of the Connaught 10-15 players.

flouncer

gally74 wrote: »

Yep but not good enough for Joe, why I don't see the exact type of player that should be in the Irish setup as we build to 2019

Now I know my opinion is way out there. But I couldnt agree more. What do you want. The utterly boring Leinster/Munster play or the Connacht/Ulster interesting play. Joe has answered that question

Stheno

flouncer wrote: »

Now I know my opinion is way out there. But I couldnt agree more. What do you want. The utterly boring Leinster/Munster play or the Connacht/Ulster interesting play. Joe has answered that question

And what interesting play have we seen from Connaught in their last two matches where they managed to score three points in 160 mins?

Zzippy

Firstly Stheno, it's Connacht, not Connaught.

Meh, I'm not too concerned at the lack of representation - we'll have them available during the 6N. I'd rather have Buckley fit again and playing for us than off playing for Ireland. He might be considered a bit small for test level anyway.

This team for the 6N period would be sweet:
Buckley, McCartney, Rodney, Muldowney, Dillane, Muldoon, Heenan, Masterson, Marmion (I think Reddan will still get the nod from JS), McGinty, Healy, Ronaldson, Aki, Poolman, TOH.
Bealham, Delahunt, Loughs, Browne, SOB, Blade, Carty, Parata to come on.

flouncer

Stheno wrote: »

And what interesting play have we seen from Connaught in their last two matches where they managed to score three points in 160 mins?

Its funny you mention that. Its a really valid point. Its being wrecking my head. And then we come to Pat Lam. Obviously a great inclusion. We had two weekends (make that 3) where we lost games based on a daft game strategy.

flouncer

Zzippy wrote: »

Firstly Stheno, it's Connacht, not Connaught.

Meh, I'm not too concerned at the lack of representation - we'll have them available during the 6N. I'd rather have Buckley fit again and playing for us than off playing for Ireland. He might be considered a bit small for test level anyway.

This team for the 6N period would be sweet:
Buckley, McCartney, Rodney, Muldowney, Dillane, Muldoon, Heenan, Masterson, Marmion (I think Reddan will still get the nod from JS), McGinty, Healy, Ronaldson, Aki, Poolman, TOH.
Bealham, Delahunt, Loughs, Browne, SOB, Blade, Carty, Parata to come on.

I just love that post :-)

Stheno

Zzippy wrote: »

Firstly Stheno, it's Connacht, not Connaught.

Meh, I'm not too concerned at the lack of representation - we'll have them available during the 6N. I'd rather have Buckley fit again and playing for us than off playing for Ireland. He might be considered a bit small for test level anyway.

This team for the 6N period would be sweet:
Buckley, McCartney, Rodney, Muldowney, Dillane, Muldoon, Heenan, Masterson, Marmion (I think Reddan will still get the nod from JS), McGinty, Healy, Ronaldson, Aki, Poolman, TOH.
Bealham, Delahunt, Loughs, Browne, SOB, Blade, Carty, Parata to come on.

I'm ****e at spelling Connacht (I' copied and pasted that )

I hope you get to the CC and will be avidly following

flouncer

oops or were you naming the next irish team

flouncer

Zzippy wrote: »

Firstly Stheno, it's Connacht, not Connaught.

Meh, I'm not too concerned at the lack of representation - we'll have them available during the 6N. I'd rather have Buckley fit again and playing for us than off playing for Ireland. He might be considered a bit small for test level anyway.

This team for the 6N period would be sweet:
Buckley, McCartney, Rodney, Muldowney, Dillane, Muldoon, Heenan, Masterson, Marmion (I think Reddan will still get the nod from JS), McGinty, Healy, Ronaldson, Aki, Poolman, TOH.
Bealham, Delahunt, Loughs, Browne, SOB, Blade, Carty, Parata to come on.

yep i would go and watch that team. assume you mean for ireland?

flouncer

now i am feeling awfully bitter so off with you robbie, play ur boring rugby with a boring leinster team. and get selected for a boring international team.

Stheno

flouncer wrote: »

now i am feeling awfully bitter so off with you robbie, play ur boring rugby with a boring leinster team. and get selected for a boring international team.

A team who perform better than Connaght?:pac: Why wouldn't he want to play on a better performing team?

case885

flouncer wrote: »

now i am feeling awfully bitter so off with you robbie, play ur boring rugby with a boring leinster team. and get selected for a boring international team.

I can't actually believe any Connacht supporter would want Henshaw to leave, hes a class act and will only get better with time.

flouncer

case885 wrote: »

I can't actually believe any Connacht supporter would want Henshaw to leave, hes a class act and will only get better with time.

there ya go. there is always one. i have consistently said over the years that henshaw is pants. similar with marmion. leinster are welcome to both. it will help maintain their utter drab playing style

Bazzo

Meh, I'm not going to get depressed about players not being called up for Ireland, for a couple of reasons. From a purely selfish point of view, it gives us close to our best available team during the international window and hopefully we can once again make hay and pick up a few nice wins, securing our place in the top half of the table.

Secondly, we ARE getting more and more representation in the squad, slowly but surely. These things take time, and once we've consistently showed that we can perform to as high a standard as the other provinces, more of our players will be called up.

flouncer

Bazzo wrote: »

Meh, I'm not going to get depressed about players not being called up for Ireland, for a couple of reasons. From a purely selfish point of view, it gives us close to our best available team during the international window and hopefully we can once again make hay and pick up a few nice wins, securing our place in the top half of the table.

Secondly, we ARE getting more and more representation in the squad, slowly but surely. These things take time, and once we've consistently showed that we can perform to as high a standard as the other provinces, more of our players will be called up.

hear you bazzo. still utterly gutted for the lads. just a pity that connacht are always perceived as the other province. its very hard when the head coach of the national squad confirms this perception. So no matter what we do we get our arse kicked. its a bit hard to take. hence my view

flouncer

while i may be consistently wrong, i am passionate

shuffol

I like TOH as a player, broke through at the same time as Gilroy, Zebo, DK and I rated him as the most talented at the time.

However he went off the boil for a few seasons due to injuries and loss of form. It's great that he's back showing his ability this season but before the WC he wasn't even in the reckoning, he's not going to force his way in on the back of half a season when a lot of opposition teams were severely weakened and without playing HEC against top quality opposition. If he continues to impress he'll get an opportunity.

People's perceptions of RK are rubbish though, he's a quality test level FB who's been an integral part of two 6N titles. You don't ditch him just because people are bored of watching him.

freyners

flouncer wrote:

while i may be consistently wrong, i am passionate

Passion doesn't excuse some of the bull you've written

Bazzo

shuffol wrote: »

I like TOH as a player, broke through at the same time as Gilroy, Zebo, DK and I rated him as the most talented at the time.

However he went off the boil for a few seasons due to injuries and loss of form. It's great that he's back showing his ability this season but before the WC he wasn't even in the reckoning, he's not going to force his way in on the back of half a season when a lot of opposition teams were severely weakened and without playing HEC against top quality opposition. If he continues to impress he'll get an opportunity.

People's perceptions of RK are rubbish though, he's a quality test level FB who's been an integral part of two 6N titles. You don't ditch him just because people are bored of watching him.

Just a slight critique: He hasn't just been back and performing for half a season, I believe it was 1/4 or 1/2 way through the 2013/2014 season that he returned and has been playing very well since, meaning he's been a consistent performer for Connacht for about 2 seasons now. He really hasn't missed many matches through injury since then.

shuffol

Bazzo wrote: »

Just a slight critique: He hasn't just been back and performing for half a season, I believe it was 1/4 or 1/2 way through the 2013/2014 season that he returned and has been playing very well since, meaning he's been a consistent performer for Connacht for about 2 seasons now. He really hasn't missed many matches through injury since then.

Fair enough but he wasn't really on the radar of the Irish side and it's only really this season where he's made a permanent transition to FB where people are calling for his inclusion.

If he keeps impressing he'll eventually get a call up to Leinster and that should put him in the shop window for Ireland:D

Zzippy

Stheno wrote: »

A team who perform better than Connaght?:pac: Why wouldn't he want to play on a better performing team?

Connacht posters don't go into the Leinster thread and wind up Leinster fans that Toulon are better than them. Please don't do likewise here.

flouncer

flouncer wrote: »

while i may be consistently wrong, i am passionate

come back as flounced please

irishgrover

whatever about our individual views of (f)ouncers opinions, this forum is a much better place with him and his sometimes oblique views...

wp_rathead

Flouncer closed account?

CMOTDibbler

wp_rathead wrote: »

Flouncer closed account?

flounced?

Wait for it...

b.gud

Yes! 3 more players back and no new injuries afaik

linley mackenzie ‏@linleymackenzie 6m6 minutes ago
Better news on injury front for Connacht, Peter Robb, Danie Poolman, and James Connolly all fit and available for crucial game with Scarlets

b.gud

And it's getting better

inley mackenzie ‏@linleymackenzie 3m3 minutes ago
Connacht's Denis Buckley hoping for return at best against Enisei, Henshaw hoping X-ray Tuesday "will be good to go" - Pat Lam.

connachta

GREAAAAAAAT just miss Roux and we're all right

death1234567

No point bringing Buckley back for the Enisei game, it'll be a bonus point win no matter who plays in that.

Bazzo

So, what can we expect to face Scarlets then? Something like below I'd imagine:

1. Bealham
2. McCartney
3. White
4. Browne
5. Muldowney
6. Muldoon (c)
7. Heenan
8. Masterson
9. Marmion
10. Carty/Ronaldson
11. Healy
12. Ronaldson/Henshaw/Aki
13. Aki/Henshaw
14. Poolman
15. O'Halloran

16. Heffernan/Delahunt
17. Loughney
18. Ah You
19. Dillane
20. O'Brien/Connolly/McKeon(is he fit yet?)
21. Porter
22. Carty/MacGinty
23. Parata/Adeolokun/Henshaw(If he's fit and Pat doesn't want to start him for whatever reason)

Standard enough really but honestly I reckon it's a good enough team to give Scarlets a run for their money, away or not. Personally if Henshaw is good to go I'm not sure whether I'd rather him at 12 and Aki at 13 or vice versa. They are both very effective in either position. Maybe slightly prefer Aki at 13 so he can use that space to break the line like he so often tends to do. I'd have Ronaldson at 10 ahead of centre any day of the week but we know that Pat likes himself and Aki in the centre together so we may even see Robbie at fullback again.

EDIT: Just to add by "standard" I don't mean that it's an average team, just that I don't expect any curveballs in the selection.

MarinersBlues

death1234567 wrote: »

No point bringing Buckley back for the Enisei game, it'll be a bonus point win no matter who plays in that.

The last twenty minutes would be just grand for him.
But they did say Enisei at best