Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

Zzippy

troyzer wrote: »

This is how Leinster ALWAYS feels.

We literally have three back row players left.

Yeah, but you have an academy with gold toilets and a conveyor belt of 100kg robots coached to within an inch of their lives to fill it. We've got a portaloo and a weights bench...

troyzer

KBurke85 wrote: »

troyzer wrote: »

This is how Leinster ALWAYS feels.

We literally have three back row players left.

But ye are also 20 points clear in your conference so no one is going to shed any tears

joseywhales

Just wait though we will lose a couple of games playing half an academy team and the leinster thread will be in meltdown using words like "disgraceful performance" a la Treviso last year when we subsequently won every competition we were played in. The stereotype of pretentiousness is hard to lose.

wp_rathead

You've got a Friend in me

Zzippy wrote: »

Great and all as it is to have so many players in the squad, we've gone from a situation where we could expect to do well during the 6N, to one where we'll possibly be struggling in certain positions. Down to Cannon/Thornbury/Gallagher now at lock, and if Thornbury is gone we're really struggling. If Marmion is still out and Blade gone it's just Mitchell/Kerins at 9 - big step down in experience. First choice midfield gone too.

Is Joe Mak injured?
We have Lloyd as SH cover too, but I'm more excited about seeing more of Kerins tbh
Plus with Tom Daly as an option at 12 again I think we can field a decent team for Cardiff

Diabhal Beag

Getting pretty sick and tired of Connacht lads constantly having to save the national team.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

For those who didn't see the game.
Or those who did see the game and lamented the lack of replays!

Our trys were well worked and well taken.
We really could have lost that game entirely from sloppy defending.

Waiting with bated breath to see who is available for this weekend.

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

troyzer wrote: »

This is how Leinster ALWAYS feels.

We literally have three back row players left.

That's still about 5 more then Ulster

freyners

The Friend Zone

MarinersBlues wrote: »

For those who didn't see the game.
Or those who did see the game and lamented the lack of replays!

Our trys were well worked and well taken.
We really could have lost that game entirely from sloppy defending.

Waiting with bated breath to see who is available for this weekend.

That's actually really impressive support running by Robertson McCoy for the 4th

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

freyners wrote: »

That's actually really impressive support running by Robertson McCoy for the 4th

I was actually impressed with how Roux kept up with their 9 for his try.

Zzippy

wp_rathead wrote: »

Is Joe Mak injured?
We have Lloyd as SH cover too, but I'm more excited about seeing more of Kerins tbh
Plus with Tom Daly as an option at 12 again I think we can field a decent team for Cardiff

Shush! It won't look so bare if we include him...



I completely forgot about him!

Zzippy

Buckley, Delahunt, Bealham
Thornbury, Cannon
McKeon, Fainga'a, Butler
Mitchell, Horwitz
Daly, Godwin
Healy, TOH, Leader


Actually that's not a bad team, concerns at halfback and second row, but the biggest concern would be all the new partnerships and how they gel defensively.

Buer

Zzippy wrote: »

Yeah, but you have an academy with gold toilets and a conveyor belt of 100kg robots coached to within an inch of their lives to fill it. We've got a portaloo and a weights bench...

We've actually noticed that weights bench is going pretty well for you lot so we'lre going to grab it this summer.

Thanks.

Zzippy

Buer wrote: »

We've actually noticed that weights bench is going pretty well for you lot so we'lre going to grab it this summer.

Thanks.

It's under contract until 2020. Ans I'm telling you now - that weights bench his getting plenty of gametime and doesn't need to be lifting at a higher intensity...

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Zzippy wrote: »

Buckley, Delahunt, Bealham
Thornbury, Cannon
McKeon, Fainga'a, Butler
Mitchell, Horwitz
Daly, Godwin
Healy, TOH, Leader


Actually that's not a bad team, concerns at halfback and second row, but the biggest concern would be all the new partnerships and how they gel defensively.

I'd have Boyle starting ahead of McKeon. Could also play Griffin and Godwin. They've played a few games together.
Wouldn't be too worried about the second row. Thornbury is playing very well and Cannon has never let the team down when he has played.

Robbo

I can't believe it's not Butler

Zzippy wrote: »

It's under contract until 2020. Ans I'm telling you now - that weights bench his getting plenty of gametime and doesn't need to be lifting at a higher intensity...

I hear that the weights bench has been seeing a squat rack from Dublin...

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Zzippy wrote: »

Buckley, Delahunt, Bealham
Thornbury, Cannon
McKeon, Fainga'a, Butler
Mitchell, Horwitz
Daly, Godwin
Healy, TOH, Leader


Actually that's not a bad team, concerns at halfback and second row, but the biggest concern would be all the new partnerships and how they gel defensively.

Not a bad team at all, a bench of heffernan, McCabe, McCoy, joe mak, Boyle, Lloyd/kerins, Fitzgerald, kelleher/ Fitzgerald wouldn’t fill me with confidence if Connacht a slightly losing going into the last 30

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Wegians89 wrote: »

Not a bad team at all, a bench of heffernan, McCabe, McCoy, joe mak, Boyle, Lloyd/kerins, Fitzgerald, kelleher/ Fitzgerald wouldn’t fill me with confidence if Connacht a slightly losing going into the last 30

Not sure if Conor Fitzgerald will be available. He was meant to be on the bench V Bordeaux but got injured in training. Carty had to cancel a weekend away to play. The lads on Craggy rugby mentioned it.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

KBurke85 wrote: »

Not sure if Conor Fitzgerald will be available. He was meant to be on the bench V Bordeaux but got injured in training. Carty had to cancel a weekend away to play. The lads on Craggy rugby mentioned it.

Heard that too but was just going with the most optimistic approach. If he’s out Horwitz will have to play 80 minutes at 10 or draft in Luke carty?

Lebute

Wegians89 wrote: »

Heard that too but was just going with the most optimistic approach. If he’s out Horwitz will have to play 80 minutes at 10 or draft in Luke carty?

I'd say you will see Kyle Godwin cover 10 given that Like hs had little exposure to the 1st team.

realhorrorshow

KBurke85 wrote: »

I'd have Boyle starting ahead of McKeon. Could also play Griffin and Godwin. They've played a few games together.
Wouldn't be too worried about the second row. Thornbury is playing very well and Cannon has never let the team down when he has played.

Centre is a toss up for me. Daly didn’t look comfortable in defence against Munster, I’d be worried about him coming up against two of the most dangerous centres in the league. On the other hand the Griffin-Godwin combo was extremely blunt in attack last time out. Daly is good with ball in hand and Godwin could make hay running lines off him.

Zzippy

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Centre is a toss up for me. Daly didn’t look comfortable in defence against Munster, I’d be worried about him coming up against two of the most dangerous centres in the league. On the other hand the Griffin-Godwin combo was extremely blunt in attack last time out. Daly is good with ball in hand and Godwin could make hay running lines off him.

Agree with this. I think Griffin has been a big disappointment since coming back from England and any time I've seen him play since he's done nothing to change that view.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Would have expected some of the lads in Irish camp to be made available? Can't start them when they are not around this week I guess, but would have thought Blade and Carty could bench, one of the second rows and Farrell could all bench?

House4596

Starting 15 for this weekend ?

Zzippy

ClanofLams wrote: »

Would have expected some of the lads in Irish camp to be made available? Can't start them when they are not around this week I guess, but would have thought Blade and Carty could bench, one of the second rows and Farrell could all bench?

I think the Irish squad only fly back from Portugal on Friday (possibly evening), which makes getting players to Cardiff difficult. They would certainly miss the captain's run there, so I doubt any will be released. Hope I'm wrong!

House4596

Would love to see Masterson get a run this weekend

realhorrorshow

Zzippy wrote: »

Agree with this. I think Griffin has been a big disappointment since coming back from England and any time I've seen him play since he's done nothing to change that view.

Think there'll be a clear out at centre this summer, with him, Robb, and maybe Ronaldson leaving.

realhorrorshow

House4596 wrote: »

Would love to see Masterson get a run this weekend

It's probably between him and McKeon for the 20 jersey.

FACECUTTR

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Think there'll be a clear out at centre this summer, with him, Robb, and maybe Ronaldson leaving.

Don't think Ronaldson will be released but Robb is almost certain to go. Griffin seemed to be a favourite at the start of the season but really doesent offer much so he could be. Hopefully Daly will get a run of games to see where is at.

b.gud

Carolan, Duffy and Wilkins have all signed 2 year extensions keeping the same back room staff in place for the next 2 seasons at least

realhorrorshow

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Don't think Ronaldson will be released but Robb is almost certain to go. Griffin seemed to be a favourite at the start of the season but really doesent offer much so he could be. Hopefully Daly will get a run of games to see where is at.

I guess Ronaldson’s future may be determined by S & C data we are not privy to.