Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

The Lost Sheep

Zzippy wrote: »

AFAIK Australia only selects overseas-based players with a minimum of 60 caps. Basically players have to establish themselves in the national team and play for a number of years before they will be considered eligible. If they head off for a bigger paycheck before then, sayonara...

Yeah its 60 caps. Godwin hasnt a hope of a call up. Good player but 1 cap and not type player to break that rule for.

Diabhal Beag

Godwins deserves much better than to be called up to that circus.

Former Former

You've got a Friend in me

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Yeah its 60 caps. Godwin hasnt a hope of a call up. Good player but 1 cap and not type player to break that rule for.

Surely the reason he's here in the first place is because he had no chance of a call-up

The Lost Sheep

Former Former wrote: »

Surely the reason he's here in the first place is because he had no chance of a call-up

And that.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Be very hard to win over there tomorrow night I think with unfamiliar partnerships in the half backs and centre.

I presume the Perpignan team is much closer to the first XV than last week. The death of the club legend last week and desperation for a first win will make them very tough I reckon.

connachta

ClanofLams wrote: »

Be very hard to win over there tomorrow night I think with unfamiliar partnerships in the half backs and centre.

I presume the Perpignan team is much closer to the first XV than last week. The death of the club legend last week and desperation for a first win will make them very tough I reckon.

We don't really care. I'd take a good defeat with good playing patterns for an experimental team, rather than ugly win with two more injuries

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Jack Carty tweeted while back that none of his gear, kicking tees or boots have made it to France. Hope that doesnt mess too much with prep for game

that's good news for some :P

oneofakind32

I have been looking for a stream. I heard that last week's game was live on EPCR website.
Fingers crossed, something will appear here around KO time.
https://www.epcrugby.com/challenge-cup/latest-video/live-matches/

FACECUTTR

oneofakind32 wrote: »

I have been looking for a stream. I heard that last week's game was live on EPCR website.
Fingers crossed, something will appear here around KO time.
https://www.epcrugby.com/challenge-cup/latest-video/live-matches/

It was live on the EPCR site and was excellent quality. No commentary obviously but you can hear the ref and it shows replays. I mirrored it from my phone to my tv no problem.

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

Any stream?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Is the match online anywhere?

oneofakind32

No luck! We are 8 points down so I think I'll just go and watch the Ulster match

vienne86

oneofakind32 wrote: »

No luck! We are 8 points down so I think I'll just go and watch the Ulster match

8-14 now - plenty of updates on twitter.

gally74

The Friend Zone

vienne86 wrote: »

8-14 now - plenty were rocking

MayoForSam

Mul, it's over

Winning 19-8 now, SOB with his second try. 5 minutes left in first half.

wp_rathead

You've got a Friend in me

not the ideal start to second half
18-22 after 47 mins

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

15 up with ten to go. Bonus point win, good evenings work.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Kelleher and healy with tries. Bonus point got and looks like a win now with only ten minutes left

sioda

Red card for USAP and connacht have two trys

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Jaysus sounds like crazy stuff, 8 points down to 14 points up to 1 point game and the Healy and Kelleher go and score another 2 about 2 mins apart

Diabhal Beag

Me personally: I like winning matches while scoring 5 tries and would like to see it more often if possible.

wp_rathead

You've got a Friend in me

Agen beating Grenoble is good for Connacht in our hunt for one of the best 3 runner up spots

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Hope there’s some highlights, apparently some of the Connacht try’s were good

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

I presume the new champions cup rules about highest remaining seeds having home advantage for the semi final equally apply to Challenge Cup? Bit of a sickener it’s happening this year

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

ClanofLams wrote: »

I presume the new champions cup rules about highest remaining seeds having home advantage for the semi final equally apply to Challenge Cup? Bit of a sickener it’s happening this year

I didn't see that rule change. It sounds like bull****.
Seeding is based on last years form.
After 7 games the matches played this year should determine home advantage.

Former Former

You've got a Friend in me

MarinersBlues wrote: »

I didn't see that rule change. It sounds like bull****.
Seeding is based on last years form.
After 7 games the matches played this year should determine home advantage.

That's exactly what it is

The highest placed team from the pool stages gets the home semi.

The Lost Sheep

ClanofLams wrote: »

I presume the new champions cup rules about highest remaining seeds having home advantage for the semi final equally apply to Challenge Cup? Bit of a sickener it’s happening this year

I would assume it is.

MarinersBlues wrote: »

I didn't see that rule change. It sounds like bull****.
Seeding is based on last years form.
After 7 games the matches played this year should determine home advantage.

It isnt anything to do with seeding based on last season.
it is seeding from the group stage for the quarters/semis

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Former Former wrote: »

That's exactly what it is

The highest placed team from the pool stages gets the home semi.

Ah, right. I thought you meant initial sending from the start of the competition.

If that's the case - it's the first rule change to European rugby that I agree with in over 5 years.

They are however being consistent in managing to ensure Connacht get on the wrong end of the deal

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

They apply to Challenge Cup too.
https://www.epcrugby.com/challenge-cup/format/rules/

Only hope for home semi is being best runner up and therefore ranked no.6 winning away quarter, and hoping seed 7 wins away to seed 2. So a long shot to say the least.

Depending on context in league at the time, could maybe field first XV or close it for knockout stages but has to be of secondary importance generally.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

ClanofLams wrote: »

They apply to Challenge Cup too.
https://www.epcrugby.com/challenge-cup/format/rules/

Only hope for home semi is being best runner up and therefore ranked no.6 winning away quarter, and hoping seed 7 wins away to seed 2. So a long shot to say the least.

Depending on context in league at the time, could maybe field first XV or close it for knockout stages but has to be of secondary importance generally.

Or Bordeaux do us a favour...