Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

b.gud

testtech05 wrote: »

Any idea what happened him? Thought they had been reporting him as 2-3 weeks?

Only tangentially related to this but I'm quite annoyed that Connacht have stopped releasing injury updates midweek. It was always good to know where players were in their recovery cycle and when we could expect them back

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

https://inpho.ie/media/YDaF9gFrAiKh8sXpxaS98g..a?ts=RzTz597aLxT1Ue4gMRz9sfsRtWVCrwPQCvbZX4QK8iY.a

Here’s Roux in training today, doesn’t look like he’s done any contact (others look pretty mucky). What type of injury did he suffer? Thought it was lower body,can’t see him being out for too much longer if he’s back running already

Shelflife

Wegians89 wrote: »

https://inpho.ie/media/YDaF9gFrAiKh8sXpxaS98g..a?ts=RzTz597aLxT1Ue4gMRz9sfsRtWVCrwPQCvbZX4QK8iY.a

Here’s Roux in training today, doesn’t look like he’s done any contact (others look pretty mucky). What type of injury did he suffer? Thought it was lower body,can’t see him being out for too much longer if he’s back running already

Hes also wearing two watches, I heard it was a pectoral injury.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Shelflife wrote: »

Hes also wearing two watches, I heard it was a pectoral injury.

Oh if it’s a peck injury he’d have no problems keeping up the fitness, could be long term so. Can’t trust a man with two watches

connachta

Mul, it's over

connachta wrote: »

And I clearly not consider Gallagher as a weak link. He made 22 tackles vs Leinster, missed none

The problem against Leinster wasn't purely down to missed tackles, it was the continued gainline lost in contact that ye couldn't recover from.

That's my concern against Montpellier, they've plenty of gainline breakers and Connacht look a bit underpowered at the moment.

Expect Friend will have ye out of the blocks as hard as possible. Blitz them early and aim for a 60 minute performance and then hold on for the last quarter.

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Nah Murray is a lot longer hahah

Who's he, then? Wegians as 24th man vs Montpellier?:P

connachta

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2019/1113/1090628-dillane-boost-for-connacht-ahead-of-montpellier-visit/

Confirmed for Dillane return, massive news!!

So many mistakes in the article though.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Wegians89 wrote: »

https://inpho.ie/media/5MOCpOoVOEye0AECx04ong..a?ts=WxyL3zHt_5KvDO8wTM-JUw..a

Any idea who’s in the back ground?

https://inpho.ie/assignment/YaxflRMGPM_VywHhdvHZ-w..a?ts=baFAt-TgI587QGxWYS-bow..a

Will Goddard

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/rugby-union/giteau-training-session-sparks-brumbies-academy-mission-for-goddard-20180525-p4zhfo.html

connachta

https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-sign-top-australian-prospect-on-shortterm-deal-as-andy-friend-deals-with-injury-crisis-38689185.html

Robbo

I can't believe it's not Butler

b.gud wrote: »

Only tangentially related to this but I'm quite annoyed that Connacht have stopped releasing injury updates midweek. It was always good to know where players were in their recovery cycle and when we could expect them back

It can all be traced back to the poor advice Jamie Heaslip received on data protection rights which informed the line IRUPA took on these matters.

For comparison, UK based teams seem to have no GDPR concerns when issuing injury updates (Cardiff and Glasgow, for example) which include specifics of the injury and the projected recovery time. Bear in mind that UK based teams have far more reason to be cautious on these issues due to the propensity of their regulator to issue fines and the willingness of the Courts there to vindicate a subjects rights in monetary terms.

connachta

So we have no prop no lock and we sign a FB (a promising IQ one, all right, but still )

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

So we have no prop no lock and we sign a FB (a promising IQ one, all right, but still )

We signed a prop McCabe is back

connachta

KBurke85 wrote: »

We signed a prop McCabe is back

I know but we have 2 down (our 1st choices on both sides)

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Interesting signing, a fullback who used to be a ten and is Irish qualified. Very interesting move hope he impresses.

With McCabe signed up too, at least there’s some support coming in. Hope they can both impress. There’s three other senior tight heads in the squad so wouldn’t expect cover coming in there, Numbers are fine just the quality isn’t proven

connachta

That said, the ONLY positive from the Leinster disaster was how well our scrum reacts under huge pressure on the hour mark, even without anything to play for but pride.
Twice international pairing C.Healy/Porter gone for the 5m scrum with a certain try on sight, twice the scrum was stabilized by Buckley/McCoy!

And taking into account we'll lose much in open play/rucks, I do think McCabe/Kenny can do the job at scrumtime for the final quarter

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

connachta wrote: »

That said, the ONLY positive from the Leinster disaster was how well our scrums reacts under huge pressure on the hour mark, even without anything to play for but pride.
Twice international pairing C.Healy/Porter gone for the 5m scrum with a certain try on sight, twice the scrum was stabilized by Buckley/McCoy!

And taking into account we'll lose much in open play/rucks, I do think McCabe/Kenny can do the job at scrumtime for the final quarter

If McCabe can hit the ground running at the level he was at most of last year I think he can do a job for us, he was decent around the park and at scrum time from which I remember.

Haven't seen much of Kenny tbh but both will be under pressure this weekend anyway at so

sydthebeat

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

So we have no prop no lock and we sign a FB (a promising IQ one, all right, but still )

not a signing, a medical joker

b.gud

sydthebeat wrote: »

not a signing, a medical joker

Somewhere Alby Mathewson is reading this post struggling to figure out the difference

connachta

sydthebeat wrote: »

not a signing, a medical joker

The mention he's IQ means what it means.
Niyi and Healy come in their 30's, he may stay (or come again later)

sydthebeat

The Friend Zone

b.gud wrote: »

Somewhere Alby Mathewson is reading this post struggling to figure out the difference

fair point

all reports say hes going back to brumbie in jan though.

hes some prospect though !! the chiefs tried to sign him hen he was still a schoolboy to replace cruden when he left from monty.

connachta

Can't spot Gallagher on training pics... Can someone help?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Can't spot Gallagher on training pics... Can someone help?

https://inpho.ie/media/wiGxZKW8YrbUi3lqJMIT_Q..a?ts=LCyZyMEMqjK2v61z6wabsw..a

To the left?

https://inpho.ie/media/xg_SbRfjE_3VeV0HzaILFw..a?ts=d5tNEpqkymkehSrPpoUGczs8T65X2jAvwXGoSRF9jG8.a#

That’s him anyways to the right of s. Fitz

connachta

Mul, it's over

connachta wrote: »

That said, the ONLY positive from the Leinster disaster

I wouldn't call it a disaster at all.

It was a game Connacht could afford to lose and you will have learnt a lot from it.

Additionally Leinster were staring down the barrel of a Benneton Treviso pool game at home whereas Connacht are hosting Montpellier. They are very different propositions.

Much of that Leinster team were auditioning to keep a returning international out of the starting jersey or making a case for the bench.

I do think that Connacht were exposed by Leinster's pack and were physically outmatched, but 3 - 4 replacements would have levelled that playing field a good deal.

It was not the day at the office Connacht would have planned, but they'll be looking for a reaction now and Montpellier will be on the receiving end of that.

And French teams don't travel well. I expect the home team to win by more than a score.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Deleted User wrote: »

I wouldn't call it a disaster at all.

It was a game Connacht could afford to lose and you will have learnt a lot from it.

Additionally Leinster were staring down the barrel of a Benneton Treviso pool game at home whereas Connacht are hosting Montpellier. They are very different propositions.

Much of that Leinster team were auditioning to keep a returning international out of the starting jersey or making a case for the bench.

I do think that Connacht were exposed by Leinster's pack and were physically outmatched, but 3 - 4 replacements would have levelled that playing field a good deal.

It was not the day at the office Connacht would have planned, but they'll be looking for a reaction now and Montpellier will be on the receiving end of that.

And French teams don't travel well. I expect the home team to win by more than a score.

Keeping Leinster to one intercept try in the second half was not something I was expecting at half time.
Big dom lasting 77 odd minutes was something I though would go worse particularly at scrum time.

The first half was just a physical master class from Leinster and that was shown in the 3 blood/his subs early on which added more disruption to an understrength Connacht team. I don’t think Connacht will be near as bad on Sunday, but we really need to see Connacht starting very quickly

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

https://inpho.ie/media/wiGxZKW8YrbUi3lqJMIT_Q..a?ts=LCyZyMEMqjK2v61z6wabsw..a

To the left?

https://inpho.ie/media/xg_SbRfjE_3VeV0HzaILFw..a?ts=d5tNEpqkymkehSrPpoUGczs8T65X2jAvwXGoSRF9jG8.a#

That’s him anyways to the right of s. Fitz

Thank you, i'm quiter now

connachta

Deleted User wrote: »

I wouldn't call it a disaster at all.

40 points conceeded, no contact won, against a Leinster team which was not even full-strenght, I call it a disaster.
Learn from it, of course, a better day this week I don't doubt about that. But our (unexpected and impressive) scrum reaction was indeed the only positive

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

I’m generally as optimistic as most on here but Leinster game was a disaster. Losing by thirty points at home is not acceptable regardless of how good the opposition are and Connacht being stretched thin.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

ClanofLams wrote: »

I’m generally as optimistic as most on here but Leinster game was a disaster. Losing by thirty points at home is not acceptable regardless of how good the opposition are and Connacht being stretched thin.

I think the early injuries swayed a tough fixture to Leinster's favour and the lack of a counter maul gave the impression that Leinster could score at will.

But ye tightened up a lot in the second half and mitigated some of the areas Leinster had put you under pressure.

It was obviously disappointing but no team can suffer a loss to second row reserves like that and expect to win the forward battle against another top table team.

I do think Connacht need a bit more power in the back row and the loss of Bealham had an obvious impact, but I don't think for a second that Connacht are in a bad place, I think it was just a bad night.

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

It was a tough outing for Connacht. But they started out like hot shots. I think conceding the 1st 2 tries so quickly, really had them lose focus.
2nd half was encouraging! The only thing that sucked was S.O.B getting injured. I am a little worried now about his injury profile. He's a quality player and the injury bug is depriving Connacht of a really good player.
Would also say that Fitzgerald looks like a fine pick up.
I would think he's better than Cian Kelliher, at least all around.
This week will be tough! A massive French pack. But, with the right game plan, you never know!

connachta

Friends agrees with me about CG!


“I thought Cillian Gallagher was one that gave us lots of energy out there on Friday night against Leinster. That’s all you can ever ask is that he gives you that. His accuracy and his decision-making will come with time but I thought he was good. It is good to have him fit and back.”