Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

Utopia Parkway

3 players off injured. McAllister stretchered off now.

gally74

The Friend Zone

Hon sligo , Gallagher with the bonus

BrokenMan

I can't believe it's not Butler

Very impressed with today. Controlling the game really well

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Bit of a piss take going to the tmo if you’re giving a penalty try anyways

Euphoriasean

A TMO for a try or a penalty try. Havnt see that before. Great to get the BP especially after a tough first 25.

Diabhal Beag

2 of those 3 injuries looked bad which mars things a bit but a fantastic win

Utopia Parkway

Forwards have been fantastic tonight. Dominant in all facets. Pity about the injuries.

beggars_bush

How is Marmion not in Japan?
Dillane also

connachta

Healy seems ok, he may be needed as FB...
O'Donnell to be signed if McAllister is out for more than 6 weeks...

BigRigsOnly

Nice move for our last try there, seems to be working nicely so far but will most likely be picked up as the season goes on. Hopefully injuries aren’t too bad! Good bonus point win for the boys

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Robbo wrote: »

This is the best I've seen us cope with a plastic pitch.

Did anyone else catch Hibbert adjusting his hair whilst waiting for a pass out a ruck 5 meters out?

I don’t think it is a plastic pitch but I’m open to correction

connachta

KBurke85 wrote: »

I don’t think it is a plastic pitch but I’m open to correction

it is not a 4G pitch

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

beggars_bush wrote: »

How is Marmion not in Japan?
Dillane also

How isn’t blade or roux in Japan?

BrokenMan

I can't believe it's not Butler

Steven Fitz did well at FB. Positioning was good

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

BrokenMan wrote: »

Steven Fitz did well at FB. Positioning was good

He’s been a great signing. Don’t know how he didn’t get more game time at Munster. Good all round footballer

macslash

Mul, it's over

Lads, missed the game. Do ye mind breaking down the injuries to me please? Thanks

BrokenMan

I can't believe it's not Butler

TOH leg, in a moon boot.
Matt Healy looked like ribs maybe
McAllister looked like a bad leg/knee injury. Double tackle and it buckled

macslash

Mul, it's over

Thanks. I was listening to the game doing the croí 5k in Galway but missed bits of it. McAllister's seemed bad? He's was going so well it's such a pity. And there is a horrific 13 gameweeks in a row now. I wonder will there be signings?
Leader, Fa'inga, TOH, Healy, McAllister in 1 week.
Add in Heff and Niyi (injured??)

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Think connachtas suggestion of bringing Conan back would be a good shout. Can’t see any back three players coming in though. Still have porch, Fitzgerald, niyi. Godwin and Farrell could play on the wings at a push. Leader and Healy could be back in two weeks. Then in the academy you’ve got Sullivan, Hayes, mcnulty coming through

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Think connachtas suggestion of bringing Conan back would be a good shout. Can’t see any back three players coming in though. Still have porch, Fitzgerald, niyi. Godwin and Farrell could play on the wings at a push. Leader and Healy could be back in two weeks. Then in the academy you’ve got Sullivan, Hayes, mcnulty coming through

I'd love to see Sullivan try-scoring maching having a go.
O'Donnell is starting his final game tomorrow in N-Z, free to come back over after this, praying for no injury!

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Wegians89 wrote: »

Think connachtas suggestion of bringing Conan back would be a good shout. Can’t see any back three players coming in though. Still have porch, Fitzgerald, niyi. Godwin and Farrell could play on the wings at a push. Leader and Healy could be back in two weeks. Then in the academy you’ve got Sullivan, Hayes, mcnulty coming through

Not sure any of the available academy players would be ready for regular game time at senior level. Would prefer not to have to move Farrell or Godwin but you’re probably right that’s more realistic than a signing. If senior back three players are going to be down numbers for a prolonged period (hopefully not) Cian Kelleher loan would make sense. One of only two Leinster players of those currently available who hadn’t made a match day squad in three opening games and they have rotated a fair bit, unlikely to get any better for him when Kearney and Larmour return.

macslash

Mul, it's over

Every week when I see the Leinster 23 and he's not in it I just think to myself why oh why did he go! He took a chance but it's not paying off. Should have stayed west

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Jack Kelly is another one I wouldn’t mind taking a punt on

connachta

Ed Byrne, Cian Healy and (if needed) Andrew Porter all coming back for Leinster as LH in the next few weeks. So if Paddy McAl is injured for a very long period, best choice would be to have Matt Burke on the bench for 3 weeks, and then get Peter Dooley on loan before Europe ( it is allowed by European rules as he didn't play for the initial team in this Champions Cup competition). Very good prop!

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Ed Byrne, Cian Healy and (if needed) Andrew Porter all coming back for Leinster in the next few weeks. So if Paddy McAl is injured for a very period, best choice would be to have Matt Burke on the bench for 3 weeks, and get Peter Dooley on loan. Very good prop!

I’d even look at Peter McCabe, think he’s still living in Galway

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

I’d even look at Peter McCabe, think he’s still living in Galway

Thought about him too, but he may feel hard done by us to have had him released... Not the exact same as O'Donnell who took a golden "Sunwolves" Super Rugby opportunity mid-season

connachta

Anyway if McAllister is not available for more than a month, we HAVE to sign someone
We just can't play Europe with M.BUrke and his very few caps + absolutely no-one over 20 y.o as 3rd choice....

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Anyway if McAllister is not available for more than a month, we HAVE to sign someone
We just can't play Europe with M.BUrke and his very few caps + absolutely no-one over 20 y.o as 3rd choice....

Bealham can also play loosehead. With regards O’ Donnell if the coaches felt he wasn’t worth keeping on at the end of last season I’d be surprised if they resigned him 5 months later.

connachta

KBurke85 wrote: »

Bealham can also play loosehead. With regards O’ Donnell if the coaches felt he wasn’t worth keeping on at the end of last season I’d be surprised if they resigned him 5 months later.

Again they let him go also because he had a super rugby opportunity, to gain maturity. Doesn't mean he was far from Burke. Now even less, with the Southern hemisphere experience.


Anyway he went off after 63 min, uninjured, on his final game, having accumulated good gametime to come back fully operational if needed


40' A gap opened in the defence and Conan O'Donnell took full advantage.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Again they let him go also because he had a super rugby opportunity, to gain maturity. Doesn't mean he was far from Burke. Now even less, with the Southern hemisphere experience.


Anyway he went off after 63 min, uninjured, on his final game, having accumulated good gametime to come back fully operational if needed


40' A gap opened in the defence and Conan O'Donnell took full advantage.

Had thought he wasn’t being renewed regardless at the end of the season so when the opportunity came up to play super rugby Connacht let him go early ?