Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Utopia Parkway

Comically bad the last 2 tries to concede. At least make the opposition work for scores. Don't just hand it to them.

Shouldn't be able to pick up a knock on deep inside your own half and run the length of the field to score without a finger being laid on you.

Clegg

Great finish from Prendergast, but there was a clear knock on in the build up.

arsebiscuits1

Try of the season contender there

Utopia Parkway

Brilliant try. All the good and bad from Connacht on show today.

MayoForSam

Any type of win here be an achievement now after the way the game has gone.

Utopia Parkway

Did really well to turn that result around. Didn't look good at HT. The 2 Stormers yellow cards definitely helped.

connachta

We've won this game against a big team.

That's a reference game, 4 pens conceeded and 5/100 missed tackles only

Aki, Hansen, Thornbury, Bealham, Heffernan additions included for Leinster, we are well able to perform.

SqueakyKneecap

That's a great result. They bullied us and even at 14 men spread us thin.

Thought Oliver and Big Papa were excellent off the bench.

AccidentallyOnside

Bench won that for us alright 👍

Their tries were too easy which is a bit of a worry.

Fitzgerald had a few good touches but overall I'm not sure how far we can expect to get with him as backup 10.

Got a touch lucky in so far as the wind was a bit lighter in the second half but overall a really good win.

SqueakyKneecap

I must say one minor gripe post match: fantastic win and plenty of youngsters behind the goals waiting for a selfie/high five from the players at fulltime. The only two that stuck around after the token half lap were Conor Oliver and John Porch. Fair play to both of them and always found them grounded in the brief convos I had with them.

We hear all this grassroots to greenshirts marketing waffle but small gestures like the above from Porch and Oliver go a long wish. I wish more of the players knew that.

AccidentallyOnside

Stormers seem very salty over the reffing.....didn't see much aside from he really should have penalised them for time wasting and not rolling away more, thought we were fairly clean tbh.

Am I being one eyed? Really didn't see where they could feel so aggrieved. It seems to be the scrum (which I thought were fairly even, maybe slight advantage to them) and mauls, which they constantly made yards off and can think of only one where I thought they might have a reason to feel aggrieved with.

FACECUTTR

The bench really brought big energy. Oliver looks on a different level. I've criticised him in the past but he is such a good player. Buckley seems to be struggling to get back into it but that's not surprising being out so long. Murray could probably do with a rest. Fifita has been great the last 2 games. Porch is a better 15 than TOH.

Wegians89

Oliver is on fire atm, huge impact. Himself and prendergast are vital. Fafita and tuimuague are turning into very decent signings. Get Thornbury and burke back soon and there could be squad deep enough to give Leinster a go two weeks in a row

connachta

I was unconvinced by Oliver size, will still bar him for international level, but gosh I can't remember a game he disappointed this season...

macslash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118698997#Comment_118698997

No you are spot on. Twitter, YouTube, fb, everywhere! I couldn't get over the comments. Stormers were dicing with the offside line a lot. Being at the game the second yellow looked like a red but I haven't seen replays since. They were constantly wasting time. And had at least two forward passes not called.

Super win. Best win to be at the sportground for in a good while. Really couldn't see a positive result at various stages of the match. Well done lads!

Burkie1203

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118698997#Comment_118698997

South African rugby twitter playing the URC is fixed for the Irish sides card, they are worse then the welsh

The stormers should have two YC in first half for cynical play on their own line.

Not to mention two blatant bits of foul play last night by the Lions which were completely missed

BrokenMan

Have watched the full match back and I've no idea where the complaints are coming from. Second yellow was a borderline red but contact did just seem to be on the chest. SA teams in general, well their online fans, are ridiculously bad losers.

SqueakyKneecap

Not seen replay but was the first Stormers try not off a very blatantly crooked lineout throw too? They got away with a lot.

freyners

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118698112#Comment_118698112

I wouldn't right off Fitz. Rainbow cup game v Munster last year he looked immense in that win and when jack was off form he looked well able at urc level for good stretch.

This year I think has suffered with Jack being in the form he has been in and lacks minutes. Coupled with Daly being a more than able 10 (proved again today) he's not not an essential bench option like most teams need.

Personally I think he's bulked up a fair bit recently and has been very versatile coming off the bench this season. His passing and decision making at the line is improving and off the tee he's fine. Hoping he gets some more game time this season to see if he keeps kicking on

jimdemp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118699218#Comment_118699218

I think the game may be passing buckley by in terms of Size. Bulter maybe the same. Murray has still a bit of filling out to do. The maul defence was very poor. Against the strong teams Burke, Papaili and Thornbery would be better suited

jimdemp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118700680#Comment_118700680

In their minds it feels like Kerry losing to Leitrim of course the are pissed. Thats 2 former great super rugby teams losing in the sportsground lol

jimdemp

Does the back 3 look better covering kicks minus TOH? Sullivan is very solid and the perfect man to defend against jameslowe. Fitz is not the playmaker like Carty, explains the Hawkshaw interest. Interesting to see teams target Prendergast with intimidation and rough play, shows you how highly he is rated outside connacht. Fifita looks great finally getting game time after injuries, internationals and Tonga flood issues and LH Tuimauga did great, out of position against a world cup winning prop. both make a lot of hard carries.

connachta

We're starting to have rich problems building toward LeinsterS

Buckley, Bealham, Boyle (having him back is a real improvement), Prendergast, Carty, Aki, Hansen are 7 nailed on

Then :

2) Heff or Delahunt (who worked well on his throws)

4) Murray, Dowling or Dillane

5) Thornbury or Fifita'a

7) Oliver or Butler

9) Marmion or Blade

12-13) Daly, Arnold or Farrell alongside Aki

back-three) Wootton, Sullivan, Porch, TOH, McNulty, Kilgallen, Healy, fighting

Except the latter where Woot and Porch by thin margin should IMO start with Hansen

Others are real 50/50 under my POV

Same for

17) Burke, Duggan or Tuimoga

18) Aungier or Tuimoga

19) one of our locks above

20) Oliver/Butler OR Papali'i (inferior but better impact player?)

22) Fitz or Daly

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118678555#Comment_118678555

Was playing for Galwegians at the weekend, so you'd imagine he's still involved with Connacht in some capacity.

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118701410#Comment_118701410

Pictured training with Connacht today

AccidentallyOnside

The saffa twitterverse isn't going to be happy that their second yellow (which most of them didn't think was a penalty) has been upgraded to a red.

realhorrorshow

Matthew Devine has been excellent for the u20s imo. Good fundamentals, relentless energy, and a real breaking threat. We've a bit of a logjam at scrumhalf, as we share pretty much all available minutes between Marmion and Blade. Doesn't leave much development time for Colm Reilly, never mind Will Reilly, Hubert Gilvarry, or Devine.

I would be pleasantly surprised if we retained both Marmion and Blade beyond 2023. Reckon Blade may have signed a one year deal to wait and see what Connacht/Marmion do next year without committing himself long term.

macslash

Could badly do with a few A games. A lot of lads need gametime.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118719987#Comment_118719987

Absolutely agree. Far from ideal to have promising players come through from the 20s and spend a year playing AIL 2B.

RonnieL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118715590#Comment_118715590

Have you a link about the yellow being upgraded to a red? Did some googling, but found nothing

b.gud

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118720332#Comment_118720332

It hasn't technically been upgraded to a red but he was cited for the challenge which means that the citing commissioners believe its worthy of a closer look. We won't actually know if its upgraded to a red until after the hearing, not sure when that is though

b.gud

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118720332#Comment_118720332

Also to your question about a link there doesn't seem to be anything official just loads of the SA media writing articles about how he was cited

AccidentallyOnside

B.gud is spot on, according to SA media the citing commissioner found no grounds from the downgrade to yellow, but nothing official on the URC site.

So I may be accidentally fake news 😳

Zeugnis

Great to see Gav Thornbury back at training, can't wait to see him playing again.

So, Edinburgh, what's the verdict? They must be short a lot of players on international duty. Our squad looks pretty strong. We need a win here to stay in the hunt for next year's Champions Cup, can we get it?

RonnieL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118723404#Comment_118723404

I have to say I'm hopeful of a win, especially with Jack's availability being flagged in advance, so he'll presumably be training all week with the squad. The squad is bound to have gotten a good boost from the win against a good stormers side too.

ClanofLams

Expect Edinburgh will get at least a few back from Scotland but they will still be missing more than Connacht. Connacht went over there two years ago during six nations too and got a hammering, shipping 40 points.

Having said that, would be hopeful. Massive game. I haven’t looked at permutations much but Andy Friend said Connacht can only afford two more league defeats to make playoffs/Europe.

With Leinster, Treviso away, two games in South Africa & Zebre in the final five, seems like a win would give Connacht a right chance and a loss would leave their backs against the wall.

Zeugnis

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS EDINBURGH RUGBY

Friday 4th March, 19:35 @ DAM Health Stadium

Number/Name/Caps

15. John Porch (51)

14. Peter Sullivan (20)

13. Sammy Arnold (32)

12. Tom Daly (56)

11. Alex Wootton (30)

10. Jack Carty (172) (C)

9. Caolin Blade (143)

1. Jordan Duggan (25)

2. Dave Heffernan (157)

3. Jack Aungier (25)

4. Oisin Dowling (19)

5. Leva Fifita (9)

6. Cian Prendergast (23)

7. Conor Oliver (34)

8. Paul Boyle (69)Replacements

16. Shane Delahunt (116)

17. Tietie Tuimauga (7)

18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (71)

19. Niall Murray (29)

20. Abraham Papali’i (20)

21. Kieran Marmion (201)

22. Tom Farrell (72)

23. Jarrad Butler (89)

realhorrorshow

Strong team. Selections at prop continue to be extremely strange.

Wegians89

Second row and back Row won’t be afraid to get stuck in anyways.

Feel there’s always a chance to win when Carty starts. Great to see Sullivan getting a good run of games.

6-2 split again to have an impact.

KBurke85

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118725093#Comment_118725093

To be fair a lot of the selections of late have simply been down to who was fit and available

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118725104#Comment_118725104

The work-rate of that back five is incredible. Each of those guys get through an absolute shift every week.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118725093#Comment_118725093

Assume Buckley's calf issue counted him out, and Burke may have been assessed as needing another week for to recover. Strange is the switching of Tuimauga. Looks like he's there to cover LH this week after three starts at TH, there must be a cost to him. Theoretically DRMc can cover both sides as well though, right?

ClanofLams

Edinburgh missing nine to Scotland. There’s no excuses not to win this.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118725141#Comment_118725141

McCoy's only start at 1 for us was in the B&I Cup in 2017, maybe he has covered off the bench.

I think it's also strange to bring Aungier in for his first start in almost a year for a must win away fixture.

Bernard Jackman saying that Adam Byrne and Peter Dooley to Connacht next season on the 42 Rugby Podcast

ClanofLams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118725218#Comment_118725218

Both seem like they could be decent signings but the two of them should have moved two years ago to be honest.

Wegians89

Dooley and Byrne could be very good signings. Add some decent depth. Should have come earlier. If I’m not mistaken the pair are very friendly with Tom Daly, hopefully will have similar impacts. Likely one if not both Healy and toh will be leaving

arsebiscuits1

Who would Byrne come in for?

Connacht pretty stacked for wingers that I can see with the rumoured addition of Mullins too.

Dooley would be a massive addition imo. 28 at the start of next season with a phenomenal injury profile and 1 short of 100 Leinster apps despite never being first choice.

I think with a run of games he'd be looking at ousting Buckley from that number 1 shirt.

PMC83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118725419#Comment_118725419

Whats the craic with Healy? Is he injured or just not getting picked?

SqueakyKneecap

I wouldn't be shocked if O'Donnell wasn't retained in all honesty.