Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Buckley Heffernan McCoy
Dillane roux
Masterson Copeland faingaa
Blade carty
Bundee godwin
Healy Fitz Porch

McCartney McCabe bealham Maksymiw Boyle kerins Fitz Farrell

Lucas44

Wegians89 wrote: »

He was pictured in training recently, would be very surprised if he isn’t

If I had to guess he is probably in camp with the 7s, could be wrong though

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Buckley Heffernan McCoy
Dillane roux
Masterson Copeland faingaa
Blade carty
Bundee godwin
Healy Fitz Porch

McCartney McCabe bealham Maksymiw Boyle kerins Fitz Farrell

We rather agree except Robb exclusion in favour of C.Fitz
And Bealham injury was bad luck I don't think making him start only from the bench would change anything

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

We rather agree except Robb exclusion in favour of C.Fitz
And Bealham injury was bad luck I don't think making him start only from the bench would change anything

I’d rather save the likes of bealham and Farrell for the bench and have then fully ready to go for Kings and Gloucester x2, those three games will have a much bigger impact in the season than this weeks game

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

I’d rather save the likes of bealham and Farrell for the bench and have then fully ready to go for Kings and Gloucester x2, those three games will have a much bigger impact in the season than this weeks game

That's not untrue, even if I think a BP isn't out of reach and could be crucial if we go full-strenght

Evil_g

Mul, it's over

This is the European Cup. You go full tilt for every game. We were long enough on the outside looking in.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Injury update from Craggy Rugby
Adeolokun Mckeon next week
Marmion Darragh Leader number of weeks Leader has a calf injury
Rory Burke Jarrad Butler - no timeframe
Cillian Gallagher - getting scan, likely long term
McAllister Thornbury TOH - December/January
Sean O’Brien - February

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

McAllister Thornbury TOH - December/January

The rule is weird this year, can we re-introduce them in the European-squad for the final 2 rounds?

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

connachta wrote: »

The rule is weird this year, can we re-introduce them in the European-squad for the final 2 rounds?

I’m fairly sure they can be yeah. Sean Masterson was added instead of Thornbury (presume that was posted but not sure)

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

3.6 The registration of incoming Swap Players can be reversed before the deadline of midday (GMT) on Thursday 26 March 2020. Each player can only replace the player who was initially nominated as his Swap Player.

3.7 Each club may register up to five Additional Players during the pool stage, but none during the knockout stage, each to replace a player previously registered. A minimum of three Additional Players must be front row players, one Additional Player can be from any position and one Additional Player must be a medical replacement. Additional Players must have a three-month contract with the club and must not have played for another club in the tournament. Additional Player registrations must be submitted by 12 noon (GMT) on the Wednesday before the match. De-registered players may be re-registered (in place of the relevant Additional Players) during the pool stage.

3.8 For Second Registration, clubs can add up to three players to supplement their squads and one of the players must be a front row player. Such registrations must be submitted by 12 noon (GMT) on 26 March 2020.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

So given there is no specific timeframe in 3.6 I presume they can be reversed any time before March 26.

BakeMeACake

It will be some achievement to come out of Toulouse with a losing bonus point. That said last weekend the guys really stood up and fought for absolutely everything.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Team named
Connacht Matchday Squad v Toulouse (Sat 23 Nov, 1pm Irish Time)

(15-9): Matt Healy, John Porch, Tom Farrell, Tom Daly, Kyle Godwin, Conor Fitzgerald, Caolin Blade. (1-8): Peter McCabe, Dave Heffernan, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Eoghan Masterson, Colby Fainga’a, Robin Copeland.

Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Matthew Burke, Finlay Bealham, Joe Maksymiw, Paul Boyle, Angus Lloyd, Jack Carty, Peter Robb.

No Buckley after 80 mins last week, No Bundee

connachta

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EJ-ZFpOWsAEW26x.jpg:large

connachta

No Aki, No Carty, No Bealham, No Buckley we're absolutely not gonna win it.
But happy to see McCartney having a rest, as, in this position (and only here), we have depth

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Interesting team. McCabe starting shows it wasn’t a great decision to offload him. No Aki is disappointing. Conor Fitz getting the start, some progression for him, hopefully it continues. Matt Healy at 15, hopefully he goes as well there as he did against Grenoble a few years back, will be under pressure in the air you would think though. Don’t think bench is strongest, very hard to see Connacht coming away from this with anything.

b.gud

https://twitter.com/StadeToulousain/status/1197847558791598085?s=19

connachta

b.gud wrote: »

https://twitter.com/StadeToulousain/status/1197847558791598085?s=19

OUCH, as expected



Ramos; Huget, Guitoune, Tauzon, Medard; Ntamack, Bezy; Baille, Mauvaka, Faumuina; Gray, Tekori; Placines, Elstadt, Kaino Subs: Marchand, du Toit, Aldegheri, Arnold, Tolofua, Cros, Ahki, Pages

macslash

Mul, it's over

Pita Akhi on the bench. Are they missing a few?

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

macslash wrote: »

Pita Akhi on the bench. Are they missing a few?

I don’t follow french rugby much but fairly sure Ahki is close to first 23 player for them. Recall he started against Leinster in Europe before and think the league final too. Was unreal that kieran Keane didn’t use him more, even if he was gone at end of season.

connachta

macslash wrote: »

Pita Akhi on the bench. Are they missing a few?

Not really...

connachta

The only chance we have is their back-line overall is ageing (and too young for the others). But their pack and bench will smash us
Leinster reboot to come

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Anyone else remember Healy starting at 15 a few years back in France and putting in one of the greatest individual performances I've ever seen?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Bazzo wrote: »

Anyone else remember Healy starting at 15 a few years back in France and putting in one of the greatest individual performances I've ever seen?

Grenoble in the challenge cup?

Former Former

You've got a Friend in me

macslash wrote: »

Pita Akhi on the bench. Are they missing a few?

Cheslin Kolbe and Antoine Dupont would be the biggest absentees plus a few more. Still a very strong squad.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Connacht +21 on the handicap

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Will be interesting to see what Connacht do with kickable penalties tomorrow. I presume the norm and take points if game is close but think there’s a reasonable argument to be made for just going for corner every time. Hope to get four tries and the bonus point that way because it’s a seriously uphill task to be within 7 of Toulouse at the end.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Gloucester have left out a few of their big guns including Franco Mostert, Cipriani and Tom Marshall for their trip to Montpellier. If they get nothing from the trip that almost ends their qualification chances.

connachta

Bazzo wrote: »

Anyone else remember Healy starting at 15 a few years back in France and putting in one of the greatest individual performances I've ever seen?

Yeah I was in the stadium. Fionn Carr was caught in the last footing on his way to score the winning try. Thank to this, we won Pro12 instead of 1 tiring Challenge Cup Semi final

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

Will be interesting to see what Connacht do with kickable penalties tomorrow. I presume the norm and take points if game is close but think there’s a reasonable argument to be made for just going for corner every time. Hope to get four tries and the bonus point that way because it’s a seriously uphill task to be within 7 of Toulouse at the end.

This is what I said 4 days ago, so 100% agree.
Only (small) opportunity to bring a point back, + there will be holes in their back-line IMO, and we're much more creative than Gloucester which have already scored 2 tries