Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Those last minute defeats are a sickener but after the chaos of last season to be over half way through season with a genuine shot of topping the conference is serious progress. Have to think the team are going to improve as the season goes on with new coaching set up getting more settled.

Having said that, Cardiff are currently five up v Scarlets late in the first half. If they get the win, Connacht will be as close to fifth as first. All to play for

its_phil

Mul, it's over

foxyladyxx wrote: »

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Those last minute defeats to Glasgow and Ospreys are really talking their toll.

As far as I can recall they are the only games we lost in the dying minutes this year.

Leinster?

No idea what you’re talking about

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Cardiff winning17-5 now

Utopia Parkway

Munster and Cardiff both winning is not ideal. Thought both would lose today.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

No favour from Scarlets at home anyway, match looks dead and buried at 5-20 with about 5 mins to go.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Bonus point for Cardiff

connachta

Plot. Look at Scarlets players smile to Anscombe

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Boyle is an ex Leinster man.

I thought he was Munster Academy

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Pool A blown wide open after this round.
It's going to be an exciting run in now!

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

I thought he was Munster Academy

Nope he was Leinster sub academy wasn’t offered academy there and Connacht offered him a spot

macslash

Mul, it's over

I imagine Daly will be involved in some way next Sat. He was the 24th man yesterday and I'm not sure we'll get away with Bundee 3 weeks in a row. Plus might be nice to have in vs Sale.
Also can't see Copeland not being involved in any of the 3 interpro's so I'd say he'll be in there somewhere. Everywhere else is up for debate with form and niggles.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Anyone hear anything of tiernans injure? Having himself and Healy back for next week would be huge

gally74

The Friend Zone

To put this in context, its working out to the 2nd best season we have had in the pro 14 / 12. (bar 16)

Friend has a nice balance to the team / squad / culture, and the signings have all being strong, I was impressed by Goodwin the other night too.

Think we need to sign him up for another 2 years pretty smartly or he could get approached like LAM.

FACECUTTR

gally74 wrote: »

To put this in context, its working out to the 2nd best season we have had in the pro 14 / 12. (bar 16)

Friend has a nice balance to the team / squad / culture, and the signings have all being strong, I was impressed by Goodwin the other night too.

Think we need to sign him up for another 2 years pretty smartly or he could get approached like LAM.

Makes no difference how long he signs for with the 6 month clause in the contracts.
I do agree there seems to be a great vibe from the team.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Dragons Ospreys is going better for us than I expected so far.

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

Bazzo wrote: »

Dragons Ospreys is going better for us than I expected so far.

Ospreys are Munster Iite. So one dimensional

Can see Dragons winning this from here if They keep getting cheap penalties

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Go on the dragons!

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Ospreys are Munster Iite. So one dimensional

Can see Dragons winning this from here if They keep getting cheap penalties

I was more listening to the match than watching to be honest but seemed like the Ospreys were average at times alright.

b.gud

Connacht 36| Ospreys 33| Cardiff 32
Munster (H)| Cardiff (H)|Ospreys (A)
Cardiff (A)| Glasgow (A)|Connacht (H)
Cheetahs (H)| Ulster (H)|Glasgow (H)
Glasgow (A)| Munster (H)|Edinburgh (A)
Ospreys (H)| Connacht (A)|Kings (H)
Treviso (H)| Dragons (H)|Scarlets (H)
Zebre (A)| Cheetahs (A)|Munster (A)
Cardiff (H)| Kings (A)|Connacht (A)
Munster (A)| Cardiff (A)|Ospreys (H)

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Good result, wasn’t expecting that

b.gud

I'll add Munster into that table when I get a chance

b.gud

Munster 39|Connacht 36| Ospreys 33| Cardiff 32
Connacht (A) |Munster (H)| Cardiff (H)|Ospreys (A)
Dragons (A) |Cardiff (A)| Glasgow (A)|Connacht (H)
Kings (H) |Cheetahs (H)| Ulster (H)|Glasgow (H)
Ospreys (A) |Glasgow (A)| Munster (H)|Edinburgh (A)
Scarlets (A) |Ospreys (H)| Connacht (A)|Kings (H)
Zebre (H) |Treviso (H)| Dragons (H)|Scarlets (H)
Cardiff (H) |Zebre (A)| Cheetahs (A)|Munster (A)
Treviso (A)| Cardiff (H)| Kings (A)|Connacht (A)
Connacht (H) |Munster (A)| Cardiff (A)|Ospreys (H)

connachta

b.gud wrote: »

Munster 39|Connacht 36| Ospreys 33| Cardiff 32
Connacht (A) |Munster (H)| Cardiff (H)|Ospreys (A)
Dragons (A) |Cardiff (A)| Glasgow (A)|Connacht (H)
Kings (H) |Cheetahs (H)| Ulster (H)|Glasgow (H)
Ospreys (A) |Glasgow (A)| Munster (H)|Edinburgh (A)
Scarlets (A) |Ospreys (H)| Connacht (A)|Kings (H)
Zebre (H) |Treviso (H)| Dragons (H)|Scarlets (H)
Cardiff (H) |Zebre (A)| Cheetahs (A)|Munster (A)
Treviso (A)| Cardiff (H)| Kings (A)|Connacht (A)
Connacht (H) |Munster (A)| Cardiff (A)|Ospreys (H)

Ospreys home will be massive for my own aim (Champions Cup play-off)
I'll be there


and thank you Dragons!!

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

connachta wrote: »

Ospreys home will be massive for my own aim (Champions Cup play-off)
I'll be there


and thank you Dragons!!

You must be the only person still "hoping" for a champions cup playoff. A league playoff and automatic champions cup is the realistic goal at this stage.

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

Where would I find the match? Not on youtub6

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

connachta wrote: »

Ospreys home will be massive for my own aim (Champions Cup play-off)
I'll be there


and thank you Dragons!!

There is no playoff
Qualification criteria changed


In May 2017, it was announced that, starting with qualification for the 2018–19 Champions Cup, the play-off will be scrapped in favour of awarding the berth using the following criteria:

Champions Cup winner, if not already qualified.

European Rugby Challenge Cup winner, if not already qualified.

Challenge Cup losing finalist, if not already qualified.

Challenge Cup semi-finalist, if one has not already qualified (or the winner of a play-off between the semi-finalists, if both have not already qualified).

Highest ranked non-qualified club by virtue of league position from the same league as the Champions Cup winner.

its_phil

Mul, it's over

Burkie1203 wrote: »

connachta wrote: »

Ospreys home will be massive for my own aim (Champions Cup play-off)
I'll be there


and thank you Dragons!!

There is no playoff
Qualification criteria changed


In May 2017, it was announced that, starting with qualification for the 2018–19 Champions Cup, the play-off will be scrapped in favour of awarding the berth using the following criteria:

Champions Cup winner, if not already qualified.

European Rugby Challenge Cup winner, if not already qualified.

Challenge Cup losing finalist, if not already qualified.

Challenge Cup semi-finalist, if one has not already qualified (or the winner of a play-off between the semi-finalists, if both have not already qualified).

Highest ranked non-qualified club by virtue of league position from the same league as the Champions Cup winner.

Section 3.2.7

https://www.pro14rugby.org/about-us/competition-rules/

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

its_phil wrote: »

Section 3.2.7

https://www.pro14rugby.org/about-us/competition-rules/

Fair enough. Thought they had made it more straigt forward last season.

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

Lord, Munster have such an easy run in.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Dubinusa wrote: »

Lord, Munster have such an easy run in.

Five away games. I can see them bottling a few

Zzippy

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Fair enough. Thought they had made it more straigt forward last season.

Think that's the playoff between Prem/Pro14/T14 teams for the last spot that was held for 1/2 years. The 4th placed teams in each Pro14 conference now play off for the 7th automatic place for the Pro14.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

We are now clear 4th favourites for the pro12.
Leinster 8/11
Munster 9/2
Glasgow 6/1
Connacht 18/1
25/1 The field

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

MarinersBlues wrote: »

We are now clear 4th favourites for the pro12.
Leinster 8/11
Munster 9/2
Glasgow 6/1
Connacht 18/1
25/1 The field

Scarlets and Glasgow imploding this year

troyzer

Wegians89 wrote: »

MarinersBlues wrote: »

We are now clear 4th favourites for the pro12.
Leinster 8/11
Munster 9/2
Glasgow 6/1
Connacht 18/1
25/1 The field

Scarlets and Glasgow imploding this year

I fancy Munster coming third in conference A. They've been atrocious away from home this year and they're away five of the next seven.

Does anyone know what Connacht's back end is like? I'll take them to win this week.

Connacht have a real shot at a home semi here. Glasgow and Munster will lose a lot of players to the Six Nations and they have one eye on Europe.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

troyzer wrote: »

I fancy Munster coming third in conference A. They've been atrocious away from home this year and they're away five of the next seven.

Does anyone know what Connacht's back end is like? I'll take them to win this week.

Connacht have a real shot at a home semi here. Glasgow and Munster will lose a lot of players to the Six Nations and they have one eye on Europe.

Munster, Connacht, ospreys and Cardiff’s run ins are all in a table a few posts up. There is a few matches between the four teams yet and they’ll decide a lot. I’d be very optimistic of at least 2nd in the Conference if Connacht can beat Munster. It’s going to be an exciting end to the season.

troyzer

Ah yes, I see the list now. Cheers.

That last game in Thomond will be juicy.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

troyzer wrote: »

Ah yes, I see the list now. Cheers.

That last game in Thomond will be juicy.

Don’t have too many fond memories down there. Would hope to have top three place in the bag before then

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

RTE jumping on the Carty hype train

It's great to see the national media taking note of his progress, could be an interesting couple of months for Jack if everything keeps going the way it is at the moment.

That link might break as they have it under the GAA section at the moment!

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Munster 39|Connacht 36| Ospreys 33| Cardiff 32
Connacht (A)1 |Munster (H)4| Cardiff (H)4|Ospreys (A)0
Dragons (A) 4|Cardiff (A)4| Glasgow (A)0|Connacht (H)1
Kings (H) 5|Cheetahs (H)5| Ulster (H)4|Glasgow (H)0
Ospreys (A) 4|Glasgow (A)1| Munster (H)1|Edinburgh (A)1
Scarlets (A) 4|Ospreys (H)4| Connacht (A)1|Kings (H)5
Zebre (H) 5|Treviso (H)4| Dragons (H)5|Scarlets (H)1
Cardiff (H) 4|Zebre (A)5| Cheetahs (A)1|Munster (A)0
Treviso (A)4| Cardiff (H)4| Kings (A)5|Connacht (A)1
Connacht (H) 4|Munster (A)0| Cardiff (A)4|Ospreys (H)1


Munster 74
Connacht 67
Ospreys 58
Cardiff 42

Gave us 1lbp vs Glasgow and turned a WBP into a LBP for Ospreys vs Cheetahs(A)

To get third, while not ideal, we can afford to lose to Cardiff away.
Given their current form that is a live possibility.

Given Ospreys and Scarlets fall off this year, Munster have a very handy run in.
However, the table above would have us going to Thomond on 67 and them on 70 which would make for a great final match!

foxyladyxx

MarinersBlues wrote: »

RTE jumping on the Carty hype train

It's great to see the national media taking note of his progress, could be an interesting couple of months for Jack if everything keeps going the way it is at the moment.

That link might break as they have it under the GAA section at the moment!

I would like to see him in the irish camp with Carbery subbing for Rob Kearney. Ross Byrne/Carty for out half behind Sexton.

Mr Tickle

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Munster 39|Connacht 36| Ospreys 33| Cardiff 32
Connacht (A)1 |Munster (H)4| Cardiff (H)4|Ospreys (A)0
Dragons (A) 4|Cardiff (A)4| Glasgow (A)0|Connacht (H)1
Kings (H) 5|Cheetahs (H)5| Ulster (H)4|Glasgow (H)0
Ospreys (A) 4|Glasgow (A)1| Munster (H)1|Edinburgh (A)1
Scarlets (A) 4|Ospreys (H)4| Connacht (A)1|Kings (H)5
Zebre (H) 5|Treviso (H)4| Dragons (H)5|Scarlets (H)1
Cardiff (H) 4|Zebre (A)5| Cheetahs (A)1|Munster (A)0
Treviso (A)4| Cardiff (H)4| Kings (A)5|Connacht (A)1
Connacht (H) 4|Munster (A)0| Cardiff (A)4|Ospreys (H)1


Munster 74
Connacht 67
Ospreys 58
Cardiff 42

Gave us 1lbp vs Glasgow and turned a WBP into a LBP for Ospreys vs Cheetahs(A)

Glasgow is during the 6N so a win isn't beyond the realms of possibility.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Mr Tickle wrote: »

Glasgow is during the 6N so a win isn't beyond the realms of possibility.

Absolutely but it is a bit unrealistic having us win every game between now and the last round.
Each result may not be bang on but the points totals won't be far off.
All I am looking for is a realistic end total for each team.

Evil_g

Mul, it's over

MarinersBlues wrote: »

RTE jumping on the Carty hype train

It's great to see the national media taking note of his progress, could be an interesting couple of months for Jack if everything keeps going the way it is at the moment.

That link might break as they have it under the GAA section at the moment!

Someone will be a long now to tell us that "I've been a vocal critic of Jack in the past but...." as though this should make their opinion more valid.

foxyladyxx

Talk of Jack Kelly moving to Connacht and Max Deegan to Ulster. .

troyzer

foxyladyxx wrote: »

Talk of Jack Kelly moving to Connacht and Max Deegan to Ulster. .

This is really starting to get on my tits.

freyners

The Friend Zone

Evil_g wrote: »

Someone will be a long now to tell us that "I've been a vocal critic of Jack in the past but...." as though this should make their opinion more valid.

I was in earshot of a conversation last weekend that went something like this (just after the 3rd try and before the conversion)

"Jaysis carty did well there"
"he did to be fair, he'll miss the kick though, cant kick any difficult"
Jack nails the conversion
"Do you ever get sick of being wrong?"

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

foxyladyxx wrote: »

Talk of Jack Kelly moving to Connacht and Max Deegan to Ulster. .

Jack Kelly would be interesting. Pretty versatile and a leader.

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

Wegians89 wrote: »

Jack Kelly would be interesting. Pretty very versatile and a leader.

Since when did looks come into it? :pac:

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

evil_seed wrote: »

Since when did looks come into it? :pac:

2019 now looks are everything. Heard aquaman had record number of sales due to mainly woman funding Jason maoma attractive. Maybe a squad full of lookers could sell more season tickets.

Dog Botherer

You've got a Friend in me

Evil_g wrote: »

Someone will be a long now to tell us that "I've been a vocal critic of Jack in the past but...." as though this should make their opinion more valid.

Leinster fan here, got a bit of stick earlier this season for saying that Carty was going well and deserved a shot at the wider squad in the Autumn Internationals. He’s definitely in better form than Carbery right now, he’s ahead of any of the Ulster 10s and other Munster 10s right now for me. One injury and he’s going to start appearing in squads I reckon.

His consistency is miles better this season, is a great passing and gain line threat and his kicking has improved immeasurably. I’m not saying he’s definitely going to the WC or anything but he’s come from a long way back to force his way into Joe’s plans and it’s hard to argue with his form.