The Scarlets vs Connacht Rugby, Sat Sep 11 3Pm

evil_seed

This game is not on telly this weekend as far as I know anyways.

Eric has named his 25 man squad for the game. More on that here: http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2010090982281/connacht-squad-to-face-scarlets.

I think we can win this, but we wont. I do believe, however that we'll pick up a losing bonus point. If we did win, needless to say, I'd be delighted.

We're down to the bare bones for the back row, which will cause problems for us. Also there are a few of the backs, Ta' in particular (hamstring), with a few knocks.

As for the Scarlets, they have there internationals returning: http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/3126.php. I'm expecting a huge backlash from them after the lost in Italy last weekend.

Scarlets starting XV vs Connacht
15 Andy Fenby, 14 George North, 13 Regan King, 12 Jon Davies, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Martin Roberts, 1 Phil John, 2 Matthew Rees (capt), 3 Rhys Thomas, 4 Lou Reed, 5 Jonny Fa'amatuainu, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 Rob McCusker.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Iestyn Thomas, 18 Peter Edwards, 19 Dominic Day, 20 Nic Cudd, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Gareth Maule, 23 Rhys Priestland.

thomond2006

The Scarlets are ****e but as you say they will be mightly pissed after last week and Connacht's squad is crippled by injury.

I can't see ye getting anything from this. Hope I'm wrong of course!

Zzippy

Duffy (c), Fanning, Ta'auso (if fit), Matthews, Carr, Keatley, Willis
Wilkinson, Cronin, Hagan, Swifty, McCarthy, McComish, Ofisa, Upton

Probably the best we can put out given the injuries. Put in Willis and Fanning cos I'd like to see them get the opportunity to show what they can do, we already know what Murphy and Troy bring to the party. Upton's probably the best option at 8 given we're missing Taylor and Muldoon.

PhatPiggins

Zzippy wrote: »

Duffy (c), Fanning, Ta'auso (if fit), Matthews, Carr, Keatley, Willis
Wilkinson, Cronin, Hagan, Swifty, McCarthy, McComish, Ofisa, Upton

Probably the best we can put out given the injuries. Put in Willis and Fanning cos I'd like to see them get the opportunity to show what they can do, we already know what Murphy and Troy bring to the party. Upton's probably the best option at 8 given we're missing Taylor and Muldoon.

Upton is fairly athletic and has good hands, should be fine. Luckily Lyons is missing for them.

Robbo

Zzippy wrote: »

Upton's probably the best option at 8 given we're missing Taylor and Muldoon.

What about McComish? I'd have the starting backrow as McCarthy, Ray and McComish. A decent lineout option too.

siltirocker

Duffy
Fanning/O'Halloran
Nathan (if Tau'uso is fit i'd have him here with Nathan on the wing at 14)
Matthews
Carr
Keatley
Murphy

Wilkinson
Cronin
Hagan
Swift
Upton
McCarthy
Ofisa
McComish

Loughney
Flavin
Sweeney
Nolan
Conneely
Willis
Nikora
Wynne

That is how i think they'll line out.

Zzippy

Robbo wrote: »

What about McComish? I'd have the starting backrow as McCarthy, Ray and McComish. A decent lineout option too.

Don't remember McComish playing much (if at all) at 8, may be mistaken though, he's played 6 a good few times alright IIRC. McCarthy can play second row or 6 so he's an option for either alright.

PhatPiggins

Robbo wrote: »

What about McComish? I'd have the starting backrow as McCarthy, Ray and McComish. A decent lineout option too.

McComish is a tryer but he's barely ML standard,if even. I'd rather play Upton out of position then him to be honest

evil_seed

McComish is a poseur. He should be a body builder. His best game was last year when he nearly got ko'd right at the start. He probably thought he was John Muldoon :pac:. He is. however, the best option at 8 for us right now. Bernie is very athletic but you can't go from 5-8 just like that. He'd get lost.

evil_seed

Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Troy Nathan, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy (capt), 8 Mike McComish, 7 Ray Ofisa, 6 Michael McCarthy, 5 Bernie Upton, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Rob Sweeney, 19 Dave Nolan, 20 Shane Coneely, 21 Cillian Willis, 22 Miah Nikora, 23 Tiernan O'Halloran.

Robbo

Just the one change then McComish in and Conneely on the bench. Let's hope they give it socks on Saturday.

cuculainn

Is it definitely not on TV? Not even one of the Welsh channels?

Digifriendly

cuculainn wrote: »

Is it definitely not on TV? Not even one of the Welsh channels?

Unfortunately no. BBC2W have Ospreys at home on tonight and S4C have Blues at Leinster tomorrow night and Dragons at home on Sunday. Pity S4C didn't have this as tea time kick off e.g. 6.00pm and Leinster game kicking off at 8.00pm. Also Connacht match is at 3.00pm on a Saturday which is a bit unsual as it probably clashes with local Welsh club games.

siltirocker

cuculainn wrote: »

Is it definitely not on TV? Not even one of the Welsh channels?

Rob Murphy will be doing a live text feed of the game i believe on knockon.ie and there may be live coverage on GalwayBayFM too.

[Jackass]

Best of luck Connacht. Possability of getting another win here.

Would be a dream start to the season for the boys out west.

Robbo

Live Text Feed.

0-3 to Connacht after 4 mins. Looks like the set pieces are working well so far.

Robbo

0-6 now after 10 mins. Keats has started this season with real confidence.

thomond2006

Is this on radio? Galway Bay FM and the like?

johnnysmack

13-6 now to scarlets

johnnysmack

Make that 13-13. try from carr. half hour gone

johnnysmack

Half time 20-13 to Scarlets

outwest

20 all,
fionn again

sock puppet

outwest wrote: »

20 all,
fionn again

Knew I should have taken that bet on him being top try scorer in the League

thomond2006

23-20 now

outwest

23 23 all keatley 60 metre pen

Robbo

Try. Fionn for the hat trick.

outwest

try conancht, carr with number 3

Robbo

Try Scarlets. Loughney sinbinned on 71, 6-7 mins to go.

outwest

try scarlets,

connacht have man in bin, 30 all, 6 min

thomond2006

G'wan Connacht. What a hero Carr is.

Robbo

Pen chance for Keatley to take the lead.

Robbo

Nails it. 33-30. Whoop!

outwest

pen connacht, 33 30

thomond2006

Please oh please hold on!

Please!

Robbo

Looks like a lot of injury time to come. Loughney should be on in maybe 3 mins.

pappyodaniel

ahhhh whats happening? did we win?

outwest

sound like great defending,

come on connacht,

Robbo

Loughney coming back on. Ray's taken a knock. Flavin on for him, strangely.

thomond2006

C'mon Connacht!!!!!!

some_dose

The amount of injury time being played is criminal

Robbo

Squeeky bum time. Connacht win a lineout 5m from their own line.

thomond2006

Blow it up ffs!

Robbo

****e. Scarlets try.

outwest

try scarlet, 7 min injury time

thomond2006

Ah no. :(:(:(:(

****

pappyodaniel

Robbo wrote: »

****e. Scarlets try.

S*** ************ *** F**k* ba***rds

evil_seed

**** it **** it **** it **** it **** it. So ****in close. I'm gutted for the lads

thomond2006

Ah lads, absolutely gutted for ye.

It just shows how competitive Connacht can be, yer entire first choice back row was out!

I'm guessing ye got an A-hole ref because it wasn't televised?

If it's any consolation, I'm certain you will finish above Scarlets this year.

outwest

i hope this game show that bradley was the big problem with conancht,

if carr doesnt get a call up their is something wrong with the irish set up.


sin bin cost us, loughney sin binning was foolish


gutted, going to have a few drinks tonight, so clsoe to beign top of table

CatFromHue

outwest wrote: »

i hope this game show that bradley was the big problem with conancht,

i didnt see the game but in relation to the bradley v elwood argument you have to remember that when a new coach comes in, at any side, the team more often than not plays better

also elwood has abetter back up staff, that backs coach he got from oz has a great cv, plus there is a bigger back up staff too.

bradley prob stayed too long at connacht but he didnt do too bad when in charge of ireland just before kidney took over.

just from reading what happened in the game from here it looked good for connacht, a losing point away would have been taken before the game. dissappointing not to win though.

Robbo

CatFromHue wrote: »

just from reading what happened in the game from here it looked good for connacht, a losing point away would have been taken before the game. dissappointing not to win though.

I would have been happy with a losing bonus before but from what I heard straight from kickoff I thought the win was on.