Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

freyners

The Friend Zone

Leinstertomas wrote: »

Yeah fair enough I did think he was decent overall

Its a fair comment but I'm slightly beaten into submission by the Irish rugby scene making the same observations so I don't hold it against non-Irish comms like Hamilton


Now the other commentator call Paul Boyle "Doyle" all night really irritated me. Assume it was a misprint on his program but my god how was that not corrected at least once

lenny4545

Anybody know what the story with O'Donnell is? I know he is in Galway now but how far away is he from training/match day squads?

colonius1

lenny4545 wrote: »

Anybody know what the story with O'Donnell is? I know he is in Galway now but how far away is he from training/match day squads?

Yea was just thinking that - if he adapts half as well as Porch - we have another diamond

connachta

Yeah TBH this win is more impressive than the 2015 one in Edinburgh, on a squad depth POV

At the time we had barely 1 player unavailable

Yesterday we won with BP away from home without 9 players at least who would have made the 23

2 (Heff)
3 (Beal)
4 (Roux)
5 (Dillane)
9 (Marms)
10 (Carty)
12 (Aki)
1 Back-3 (at least one of O'Donnell/Healy/S.Fitz was supposed to be in our regular 23)
19 (at least one of SOB/Murray/Gallagher/Dowling was supposed to be on the bench)

freyners

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Yeah TBH this win is more impressive than the 2015 one in Edinburgh, on a squad depth POV

At the time we had barely 1 player unavailable

Yesterday we won with BP away from home without 9 players at least who would have made the 23

2 (Heff)
3 (Beal)
4 (Roux)
5 (Dillane)
9 (Marms)
10 (Carty)
12 (Aki)
1 Back-3 (at least one of O'Donnell/Healy/S.Fitz was supposed to be in our regular 23)
19 (at least one of SOB/Murray/Gallagher/Dowling was supposed to be on the bench)

So your first team squad doesn't have thornbury?

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

freyners wrote: »

So your first team squad doesn't have thornbury?

I think he just meant players that weren’t involved yesterday that could have been not that Thornbury wouldn’t make his first 23

connachta

KBurke85 wrote: »

I think he just meant players that weren’t involved yesterday that could have been not that Thornbury wouldn’t make his first 23

in "theory" those who're capped with Ireland are above those who aren't, but yeah there's other "purely Connacht technical elements" in the balance (different balance with Ryan in it..), and it's a tight call between Roux/Dillane/Thornbury anyway

typhoony

Daly really impressed me at 10, doesnt look like he fits the profile as he's big however he played like a 10. can see him playing in that position again for us even if fitzgerald returns.

FACECUTTR

typhoony wrote: »

Daly really impressed me at 10, doesnt look like he fits the profile as he's big however he played like a 10. can see him playing in that position again for us even if fitzgerald returns.

He has slotted in there many times before. A bit like Ronaldson did covering both 10 and 12. Great to have somebody like that.

briandebum

I can't believe it's not Butler

I thought Blade was absolutely outstanding last night. I'm not sure who's coaching up our scrum halves but I don't think it's hyperbole to say we've had the best 9s in Ireland over the last few years.

Given the injuries/Ireland call ups I'd say this is possibly the best result of the Friend era? Massive boost after the disappointment of Cardiff.

connachta

As I said, I'm conviced we did unexpectedly well, losing our only 10 after 20 min (which was one of my worries before the game). it's great.

But we have to avoid being carried over.
Our weaknesses are still there. Aungier was dominated at scrumtime, lineout and power to contain forwards/mauls are not up to the standard.
As I hoped, we can compensate with the amazing offensive potential we have.
But in dark rainy time, it has to be completed...

Ardillaun

I’ve only seen highlights so far - my increasingly threadbare subscription service DAZN doesn’t have the full game and it hasn’t popped up on YouTube yet - but, my Lord, how high they were. Such sublime grubber kicks for three tries. It’s a great tactic when done as well as this.

BTW is Peter Claffey still at Connacht?

connachta

January "Portumna native Peter Claffey signed a senior contract with Connacht in 2018/19 and his been playing with Terenure College this season. "

The Lost Sheep

Ardillaun wrote: »

I’ve only seen highlights so far - my increasingly threadbare subscription service DAZN doesn’t have the full game and it hasn’t popped up on YouTube yet - but, my Lord, how high they were. Such sublime grubber kicks for three tries. It’s a great tactic when done as well as this.

BTW is Peter Claffey still at Connacht?

No. Was released end of season before last i think. Is playing AIL with nure

connachta

31-20 after 60 min.
So Munster and Cardiff just want to do Edinburgh-Connacht all over again

connachta

The 2nd GIF

1 player
4 defenders on his back
18 meters gained

That's Papali'i. That's Big Papa
See?

https://twitter.com/i/status/1320829799347200001

FACECUTTR

connachta wrote: »

The 2nd GIF

1 player
4 defenders on his back
18 meters gained

That's Papali'i. That's Big Papa
See?

https://twitter.com/i/status/1320829799347200001

Ferocious

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

Rewatched the game yesterday afternoon on Eirsport, noticed TOH seemed to be limping quite badly at the end but was hoping it was just a knock, seems he may be out for a while again...
https://www.the42.ie/tiernan-ohalloran-groin-5245870-Oct2020/

macslash

Mul, it's over

He can't catch a break. Could do with BOD being fit soonish

connachta

Bad news
Tiernan to see specialist about adductor injury picked up on Sunday. No time frame set on length of absence.

Mixed news
Conor Fitz removed from game due to groin issue. Taken off to prevent it from escalating
Sammy HIA

Good news
There has been some progress with he IRFU regarding a temporary signing, probably a lock. Expect further developments later in the week

serfboard

SqueakyKneecap wrote: »

"Big Papa" (please make this catch on)

If ye want to see it catch on, add this to any of yer Twitter posts - #BigPapa

Although I see it's already been used to describe another player with the same surname - Australian Rugby League player Josh Papalii ...

connachta

The nickname (and charactere) is already trending

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1321097534471884800

I love how he put an international TH prop on his ass...

FACECUTTR

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1321097534471884800

This brings a smile to my face.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Ha cool, taking full credit for this (very obvious) nickname.

typhoony

i can guarantee he'll be a red card and lengthy ban if he's not careful, any clips i've seen of him he leads with the elbow in attack and defensively tackles high regularily

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

Bristol and R92

Ouch

connachta

Bristol can be beaten.
Racing without few Internationals maybe, but...

Amazing games to grow up again, anyway

gally74

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Bristol can be beaten.
Racing without few Internationals maybe, but...

Amazing games to grow up again, anyway

happy with that better to be involved with teams like this,

I'd much rather be playing Bristol and Racing, than say a draw like
Harlequins and Montpellier
or
Sale and Toulouse

Two teams we haven't met in Europe before, and both being incredible teams.

Former Coach

Mul, it's over

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'd much rather be playing Bristol and Racing, than say a draw like
Harlequins and Montpellier
or
Sale and Toulouse

Two teams we haven't met in Europe before, and both being incredible teams.

Great draw!