Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

connachta

Likely team for Cardiff

1) Buckley
2) Heffernan/Delahunt/McCartney (I've no idea what the picking order is, the coach niether I think..)
3) Bealham
4) Cannon
5) Thornbury
6) Boyle
7) Fainga'a
8) Butler
9) Mitchell
10) Horwitz
11) Healy
12) Daly
13) Godwin
14) TOH/Kelleher
15) Leader

16) Heffernan/Delahunt/McCartney
17) McCabe
18) McCoy/Carey (tight call)
19) Maksymiew/Gallagher (tight call)
20) Masterson
21) Blade
22) Carty
23) Farrell
(all released as 3rd choice for Ireland, but only allowed on the bench I guess...)

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Likely team for Cardiff

1) Buckley
2) Heffernan/Delahunt/McCartney (I've no idea what the picking order is, the coach niether I think..)
3) Bealham
4) Cannon
5) Thornbury
6) Boyle
7) Fainga'a
8) Butler
9) Mitchell
10) Horwitz
11) Healy
12) Daly
13) Godwin
14) TOH/Kelleher
15) Leader

16) Heffernan/Delahunt/McCartney
17) McCabe
18) McCoy/Carey (tight call)
19) Maksymiew/Gallagher (tight call)
20) Masterson
21) Blade
22) Carty
23) Farrell
(all released as 3rd choice for Ireland, but only allowed on the bench I guess...)

Would like to see toh at 14 and leader at 14 but think it’ll be the other way around. Think mckeon makes the 20th jersey ahead of masterson, feel he’s more versatile and explosive from the bench. Personally can’t see any of the Irish lads making the bench, especially carty as although he is third choice there’s still a slight concern about sextons fitness

Zzippy

Wegians89 wrote: »

Would like to see toh at 14 and leader at 14 but think it’ll be the other way around.

Jesus, I'd love that too. 16 on the pitch! We'd walk the league!

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Zzippy wrote: »

Jesus, I'd love that too. 16 on the pitch! We'd walk the league!

Ah Christ, meant leader at 15

b.gud

Quarter final will be at 7:45 Friday 29th of March

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1088755396200808448

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

b.gud wrote: »

Quarter final will be at 7:45 Friday 29th of March

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1088755396200808448

Glad I waited before booking flights. Was full sure it would be the Saturday

EachSmallChime

EPCR website says the Challenge Cup quarter finals will be televised on BT Sport which is good for those who can't go over.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

CARvCON

Kick-off 5:15pm:

(15-9) Tiernan O’Halloran, Cian Kelleher, Kyle Godwin, Tom Daly, Matt Healy, David Horwitz, James Mitchell, (1-8) Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, James Cannon, Cillian Gallagher, Eoin McKeon, Colby Fainga’a, Jarrad Butler (Capt).
Replacements (16-23): Tom McCartney, Matthew Burke, Dominic Robertson McCoy, Joe Maksymiw, Paul Boyle, Angus Lloyd, Conor Fitzgerald, Stephen Fitzgerald.

No Thornbury big loss.

connachta

Why??????

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Why??????

Could be injured, Joe might want him.

connachta

Still a chance

Shane Lewis-Hughes will make his first Pro14 start and James Botham is set for his Cardiff Blues debut as John Mulvihill opts for youth against Connacht.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Excited to see Gallagher from the start. Think he has what it takes to be a very important player in the next year or two injury permitting

b.gud

According to the announcement Thorbury picked up a shoulder injury in training this week

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

b.gud wrote: »

According to the announcement Thorbury picked up a shoulder injury in training this week

Totally missed that.

I wouldn't rule out late changes to the replacements. I remember Marmion appearing back from a camp and being on the bench despite not being named.

RobbieRuns

Is Eoin Griffin still injured?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Is Eoin Griffin still injured?

Was on the bench last week

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Ideal finish to the game would be a match winning try from Stephan fitz after a cross field kick from Conor fitz

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Is Eoin Griffin still injured?

He's not good enough

Zzippy

KBurke85 wrote: »

Totally missed that.

I wouldn't rule out late changes to the replacements. I remember Marmion appearing back from a camp and being on the bench despite not being named.

Marmion is not in the Irish squad in Portugal so it is possible he travelled to Wales, but probably unlikely as Carolan was quoted saying he would feature in the next block of games i.e. after the break.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

evil_seed wrote: »

He's not good enough

Very harsh, he’s a decent 5th/ 6th choice center who is a local lad. He’s not going to set the world alight but I don’t think anyone expects him to

oneofakind32

Where is leader? We’be got some 23 year old loaner on the bench!

Diabhal Beag

Very bad feeling about tomorrow tbh

The Lost Sheep

oneofakind32 wrote: »

Where is leader? We’be got some 23 year old loaner on the bench!

rotation? has played a lot recently with all games bar Sale he played 80 minutes

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

Delighted to see Daly get a run. It's in his hands now, to kick on and secure a contract.
Gallagher will be a great player imo, if he stays healthy.
Friend is doing a fine job rotating key players. Some of these lads have had a decent rest period.
I am waiting for Lam to snatch a Connacht player over to Bristol!
It looks like Bristol will survive in the premiership this year and he certainly needs to add players to become competitive.
I think Connacht have enough to win this week.

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

Wegians89 wrote: »

Very harsh, he’s a decent 5th/ 6th choice center who is a local lad. He’s not going to set the world alight but I don’t think anyone expects him to

You're saying the same thing, only in more words IMO

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Looking forward to see what Gallagher can do, big opportunity for him. Could have serious depth in the second row if he makes it.

Bench looks pretty callow, bar McCartney and Boyle. Two Fitzgeralds have looked promising but tomorrow a step up. Could really do with some late additions to it, having Blade and Carty coming off would nearly make Connacht favourites.

Cardiff are going to be desperate and throw the kitchen sink at it. A loss would basically put them out of the equation for play offs.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

On another note, brought myself to have a look back at Leinster Connacht the other night. For all the deserved praise of Blade and Carty, Jarrad Butler was excellent. His bouncing Ruddock in the run up to Cartys try was class. What a signing he was, just consistently quality, much like Muldoon in that regard actually, rare either of them had/have a bad game.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Ospreys 3-0 up at halftime in Glasgow. Not really sure what the best result is, probably Glasgow winning by 8 without a tbp I guess. But Ospreys winning by 8 would be alright too, makes top two more attainable but top 3 more of a dog fight.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

ClanofLams wrote: »

Ospreys 3-0 up at halftime in Glasgow. Not really sure what the best result is, probably Glasgow winning by 8 without a tbp I guess. But Ospreys winning by 8 would be alright too, makes top two more attainable but top 3 more of a dog fight.

Finishing a draw without either team scoring 4 try’s might be good?

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Wegians89 wrote: »

Finishing a draw without either team scoring 4 try’s might be good?

Yeah maybe. Had a quick look at both of their run ins. Ospreys looks a bit softer to me, with the exception of a trip to the Sportsground they are arguably favourites for every other game to come. They have Munster and Ulster at home which will be tricky but it’s during 6N so hard games to call. And with top 3 being priority, probably take a Glasgow win tonight.

Connacht will still have a chance to overtake Glasgow if their form is good enough. Think Glasgow win would basically mean Connacht would lock up top 3 with a win tomorrow and win over Ospreys at home. That would put them 8/9 clear of both Cardiff and Ospreys which should be enough of a cushion.