Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

Yea, Ultan was grand! He's a damn good player.

Diabhal Beag

Hands up: I didn't think Dillane was hitting the form that people though he was picking back up from 2016. Instead we got the best ever defensive performance I've ever seen from Dillane.

He's an absolute gentleman and to see him tiltimg the game in Ireland's favour has to be my Connacht-related moment of the season.

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

His athleticism is great. He's just a natural athlete, much like Henderson.
Our 2nd row stock is unbelievable.
I think Thornbury will be involved at some point too!
And then Treadwell is going well for Ulster. Another athlete!!!

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

I would expect Carty Dillane and Farrell to be available for next week.

Is Marmion due back as well?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

MarinersBlues wrote: »

I would expect Carty Dillane and Farrell to be available for next week.

Is Marmion due back as well?

No chance dillane is free with all the injuries at lock. There’s a chance it could be ultan and roux starting against Italy. Blade will be released I’d say. Farrell and carty too. I think marmion will make the bench, friend said he’d be available for the next block of games so unless he’s had any set backs in the last two weeks he should be involved.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Assuming no new injuries or set backs in recoveries think something like this for the weekend:

Buckley delahunt bealham
Thornbury Gallagher
Sob butler faingaa
Blade carty
Farrell Godwin
Healy leader kelleher

Heff McCabe McCoy cannon Boyle marmion fitzgerald toh

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

Wegians89 wrote: »

No chance dillane is free with all the injuries at lock. There’s a chance it could be ultan and roux starting against Italy. Blade will be released I’d say. Farrell and carty too. I think marmion will make the bench, friend said he’d be available for the next block of games so unless he’s had any set backs in the last two weeks he should be involved.

Ryan will start in Rome. Beirne could be back also but neither Roux or Dillane will be risked this week

troyzer

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Ryan will start in Rome. Beirne could be back also but neither Roux or Dillane will be risked this week

Ryan does have a lot of minutes. I reckon he'll go with Beirne/Roux with Dillane on the bench.

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

troyzer wrote: »

Ryan does have a lot of minutes. I reckon he'll go with Beirne/Roux with Dillane on the bench.

I can't see Ryan being left off for 3 weeks prior to France though and he won't be released to Leinster.

Beirne might need get a game with Munster first too

Edit Dillane might be released to Bench for connacht

RonnieL

Might Jack make the bench for the Italy game I wonder? With Sexton failing the HIA on Saturday, they might decide to give him a longer rest, and add some depth while they're at it. Fingers crossed.

troyzer

RonnieL wrote: »

Might Jack make the bench for the Italy game I wonder? With Sexton failing the HIA on Saturday, they might decide to give him a longer rest, and add some depth while they're at it. Fingers crossed.

They can't keep giving him weeks off. He's barely played in the last few months. He needs game time.

Zzippy

https://twitter.com/CianTracey1/status/1094581347530752000

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

Zzippy wrote: »

https://twitter.com/CianTracey1/status/1094581347530752000

Neil Francis will love that!

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Marmion fit to play at the weekend according to joe.ie

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Next three rounds, during the 6 nations are going to be huge in terms of deciding the 3rd spot in the conference currently ospreys and Connacht on 38 points and Cardiff and cheetahs on 36.

Connacht have :
Cheetahs at home
Glasgow away
Ospreys at home

Ospreys have
Ulster at home
Munster at home
Connacht away

Cardiff have
Glasgow home
Edinburgh away
Kings at home

Cheetahs have
Connacht
Scarlets
Leinster all away

Cardiff look to have the easiest on paper. Cheetahs look the hardest. Hopefully the other provinces will do a few favors

troyzer

Wegians89 wrote: »

Next three rounds, during the 6 nations are going to be huge in terms of deciding the 3rd spot in the conference currently ospreys and Connacht on 38 points and Cardiff and cheetahs on 36.

Connacht have :
Cheetahs at home
Glasgow away
Ospreys at home

Ospreys have
Ulster at home
Munster at home
Connacht away

Cardiff have
Glasgow home
Edinburgh away
Kings at home

Cheetahs have
Connacht
Scarlets
Leinster all away

Cardiff look to have the easiest on paper. Cheetahs look the hardest. Hopefully the other provinces will do a few favors

Do you reckon there's any chance of a home quarter? You'd like to think Glasgow are vulnerable.

Mr Tickle

troyzer wrote: »

Do you reckon there's any chance of a home quarter? You'd like to think Glasgow are vulnerable.

particularly during the 6N. The difference between Connacht and Glasgow in week 1 was basically Stuart Hogg just playing a blinder. If Connacht have maybe three of the 7 internationals back (i'd hope for Jack, Farrell and a scrum half) then there's a real opportunity for an away win. If Roux or Dilanne are available, even better.

but to answer your question, I think glasgow might just have too much of a head start. It's probably better if they beat Cardiff and keep them off our heels.

troyzer

Mr Tickle wrote: »

troyzer wrote: »

Do you reckon there's any chance of a home quarter? You'd like to think Glasgow are vulnerable.

particularly during the 6N. The difference between Connacht and Glasgow in week 1 was basically Stuart Hogg just playing a blinder. If Connacht have maybe three of the 7 internationals back (i'd hope for Jack, Farrell and a scrum half) then there's a real opportunity for an away win. If Roux or Dilanne are available, even better.

but to answer your question, I think glasgow might just have too much of a head start. It's probably better if they beat Cardiff and keep them off our heels.

I'd back Connacht to come third. I'd love to see them come second though.

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

Cheetahs have a tough run in! Cardiff would be a dark horse. Connacht have enough depth to cover. I am excited to see Gallagher back in the frame. Also, McKeon is back and I think he's very under rated.
All of the provinces, look to be deeper than our rivals.
Connacht should make the top 3.

Jewelers

troyzer wrote: »

I'd back Connacht to come third. I'd love to see them come second though.

what happens if cheetahs do them on Saturday ?

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Jewelers wrote: »

what happens if cheetahs do them on Saturday ?

The sun will still rise Sunday. What were you expecting?

Jewelers

ClanofLams wrote: »

The sun will still rise Sunday. What were you expecting?

the sun not to rise , and the whest to be in darkness for 40 days, and then after forty days for TOH to proclaim himself the true irish full back , and a massive piss up on watery wine for a week .

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Glasgow are 8 points ahead of Connacht atm, obviously if Connacht can beat them that should put a dent in that. Feel Connacht will have a few wobbles on the way so think third is more realistic. Ideal scenario would be Glasgow beating Cardiff, ospreys and cheetahs and lose every other game

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Carty and Blade available according to Michael Corcoran on RTÉ sport earlier

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

RonnieL wrote: »

Might Jack make the bench for the Italy game I wonder? With Sexton failing the HIA on Saturday, they might decide to give him a longer rest, and add some depth while they're at it. Fingers crossed.

New squad announced for Round 3 this week. Might be several changes to that squad. Previous squad was round 1 and 2 only

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Burkie1203 wrote: »

New squad announced for Round 3 this week. Might be several changes to that squad. Previous squad was round 1 and 2 only

If any of the uncapped players were to get a cap, it’d be against Italy. If theyvecinpressed enough in training I could see them being in the squad for the Italian match. All about what went on behind closed doors in carton house.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

KBurke85 wrote: »

Carty and Blade available according to Michael Corcoran on RTÉ sport earlier

Was Farrell mentioned?

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Wegians89 wrote: »

KBurke85 wrote: »

Carty and Blade available according to Michael Corcoran on RTÉ sport earlier

Was Farrell mentioned?

He wasn’t but he only listed out some of the players released back to the provinces. I’m sure we’ll know more tomorrow after the press briefing

Zzippy

Farrell hasn't had a game for 3 weeks. Even if he was pencilled in to feature against Italy, which I doubt, he would still need some gametiime this weekend.

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

Zzippy wrote: »

Farrell hasn't had a game for 3 weeks. Even if he was pencilled in to feature against Italy, which I doubt, he would still need some gametiime this weekend.

I think Tom trained with Connacht today, saw on Instagram this am one of the players had pics up poking fun at the fact he turned up with his Ireland gear bags. Hopefully a sign he will be free to play at the weekend too