Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

If nothing else a home play-off would be a great occasion to round off the season.

Still, top three had to be the aim now.

freyners

The Friend Zone

Zzippy wrote: »

It's still a playoff, home advantage to the 4th placed team with the highest points in their conference. Which is unfair IMO, having Dragons and Kings in Conference B gives teams in that conference an advantage.

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

We also have to play extra games against the other Irish provinces, which compared to the other countries (although both Scottish teams are strong) are significantly tougher. But you are never going to have a perfectly fair system in the league and we should be back ourselves to finish at least third in any case if we have genuine ambitions for anything

Mr Tickle

connemara man wrote: »

For the sake of rest and rotation we need all of them three 7s is a minimum as it's the most attritional position going two out and out 8s two 6s and then one or two who bench and can cover across the backrow.
Like we're actually thin a player or 2 TBH

7s
Jarrad
Colby
Connolly

8s
Boyle (does a good job at 6 but more effective at 8)
Masterson (does a good job at 6 but more effective at 8)
Copeland


6s
SOB
McKeon ( always thought his position was here but he covers across all 3)

Add in Gallagher who's a lock aswell. We'd need to keep all the above

two of those (SOB & Copeland) cover second row too. And for what it's worth I reckon Boyle could do a job at number 4 if he had to. Things aren't as bad there as they were last year but you'd like to keep options open.

With Connacht you're never more than one bad Cardiff game away from an injury crisis.

Mr Tickle

freyners wrote: »

We also have to play extra games against the other Irish provinces, which compared to the other countries (although both Scottish teams are strong) are significantly tougher. But you are never going to have a perfectly fair system in the league and we should be back ourselves to finish at least third in any case if we have genuine ambitions for anything

How does that work for the Italian, Scottish and SA teams? do they play eachother more times in a season?

The Lost Sheep

Mr Tickle wrote: »

How does that work for the Italian, Scottish and SA teams? do they play eachother more times in a season?

They all play each other 3 times a season

Zzippy

freyners wrote: »

We also have to play extra games against the other Irish provinces, which compared to the other countries (although both Scottish teams are strong) are significantly tougher. But you are never going to have a perfectly fair system in the league and we should be back ourselves to finish at least third in any case if we have genuine ambitions for anything

Absolutely, gotta be aiming for top 3 regardless.
In a conference system points will always be skewed towards the conference with the weakest team(s), I was just making the point that basing home venue on points total favours teams in that conference. Hopefully someone else can worry about that come the end of the season.

connachta

Play-off not canceled, then, sure it is?

Zzippy

James Crombie from Inpho accompanied the team for the whole of the SA tour and did a short video, looks great. Anyone remember the Siberian trip and how the team bonded on that? Could we see a similar bounce after this trip...?

https://twitter.com/Inphosports/status/1069642189012115456

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Was looking st the challenge cup squad there and blade and Mitchell are the only two registered 9s in the squad. Scholes is still in there so I presume he’ll be taken out, if the 3 alterations haven’t already been used.

I’d be looking for something like :

McCabe Delahunt McCoy
Thornbury maksymiw
Masterson Copeland Connolly
Mitchell Horwitz
Robb griffin
De buitlear leader kelleher

Murphy/ heffernan, Burke, Kenny/ bealham, roux, faingaa, blade/ kerins, Fitzgerald, sob3
Not sure if the likes of masterson, heffernan Kenny are fit but if they are I’d have them involved. If kerins could be registered I’d give him a run on the bench. Don’t want blade run out, only 2 games into a block of 8 where marmion won’t be around

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

On the back row options, if a7 or 8 was leaving Leinster I’d still hope Connacht try to sign them even with all the options currently on the books. A deegan/ Doris type have potential to be lions, while I think leainstercwould he stupid to let vdf or leavy go similarly they’d walk into a Connacht 23.

FACECUTTR

Zzippy wrote: »

James Crombie from Inpho accompanied the team for the whole of the SA tour and did a short video, looks great. Anyone remember the Siberian trip and how the team bonded on that? Could we see a similar bounce after this trip...?

https://twitter.com/Inphosports/status/1069642189012115456

You could be on to something Zippy. The final is in Scotland too. Good omens.

Zzippy

FACECUTTR wrote: »

You could be on to something Zippy. The final is in Scotland too. Good omens.

I stayed between Glasgow and Edinburgh the last time. If we make it I'll have to stay in the same B&B in order not to jinx anything!

Richie_Rich89

Mul, it's over

Sevu Reece training with the Crusaders

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/109078456/unwanted-waikato-wing-sevu-reece-training-with-crusaders

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

Sevu Reece training with the Crusaders

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/109078456/unwanted-waikato-wing-sevu-reece-training-with-crusaders

From a purely rugby point of view what a loss he will be

b.gud

Stephen Kerrins has been added to the European squad in place of McKeon https://www.the42.ie/champions-cup-additional-players-round-three-4374995-Dec2018/

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

I'm glad Connacht nixed Reece. Good choice and really the only one.
As talented as he may be, he's just not worth the drama and hassle.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

b.gud wrote: »

Stephen Kerrins has been added to the European squad in place of McKeon https://www.the42.ie/champions-cup-additional-players-round-three-4374995-Dec2018/

That’s pretty good, he should get a debut now, actually why didn’t they use scholes spot??

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Bundee was training with the squad today. Heffernan masterson, Gallagher and claffey were all there too if they’re fit I’d like to see those four get game time

Zzippy

Wegians89 wrote: »

Bundee was training with the squad today. Heffernan masterson, Gallagher and claffey were all there too if they’re fit I’d like to see those four get game time

Thought he was heading back to NZ for a few weeks, no?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Zzippy wrote: »

Thought he was heading back to NZ for a few weeks, no?

Thats why I’m a bit shocked. Maybe he is heading mid week? Himself and marnion were in Dubai last week though

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Thats why I’m a bit shocked. Maybe he is heading mid week? Himself and marnion were in Dubai last week though

Instagram stalker or something like that?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Instagram stalker or something like that?

Oh of course. Jordan conroy had a picture of the pair of them over there after the 7s

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

You definitely just broke the "don't be a dick" rule.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Yeah so moving swiftly on, three Connacht players in the under 19 squad

Richie_Rich89

Mul, it's over

MarinersBlues wrote: »

You definitely just broke the "don't be a dick" rule.

Yeah, Wegians. What were you thinking? :rolleyes:

Utopia Parkway

I'm lost. Is there beef over someone on their own Instagram revealing where and what they are doing? That's kinda the point of it no?

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

I'm lost. Is there beef over someone on their own Instagram revealing where and what they are doing? That's kinda the point of it no?

I think people are just slagging Wegians for being so up to date with where people are based on their social media postings

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

I'm lost. Is there beef over someone on their own Instagram revealing where and what they are doing? That's kinda the point of it no?

Nah, it was in a response to a now deleted post.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

I’ll take the slagging, I’ve wasted too much time on instagram

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Confirmation from friend that bundee is available at the weekend. He was keen to travel to South Africa too apparently. Bonus point win this weekend using players who weren’t involved in the tour would be great for keeping momentum going