Ospreys v Connacht, Fri Sep 30 7.30PM

evil_seed

Connacht Rugby have announced the team that will face the Ospreys tomorrow night in the Liberty Stadium.
Following last weekend's home win over the Dragons Head Coach Eric Elwood has opted to keep the backline unchanged with Gavin Duffy captaining the side from fullback, Eoin Griffin and Henry Fa'afili in the centre and Brian Tuohy and Tiernan O'Halloran on the wings. The halfback pairing of Frank Murphy and Niall O'Connor remains with Paul O'Donohoe and Matthew Jarvis providing cover from the bench along with former Blues winger James Loxton.
A change in the frontrow sees Dylan Rogers replace Rodney Ah You at tighthead. Stuart Maguire covers that position from the bench. Michael Swift has recovered from the illness that ruled him out of contention last week and returns to the starting lineup while Dave Gannon moves to the bench. The other change in the pack sees TJ Anderson making his competitive start for the Province at blindside flanker. The 28 year old Magherafelt-born former Ulsterman replaces Ray Ofisa who moves to the bench. Brett Wilkinson and Ethienne Reynecke join Rogers in the front row with Flavin and Loughney backing them up while Mike McCarthy joins Michael Swift in the second row.
Connacht will be hoping to build on last week's success over the Dragons in the Sportsground. With 3 wins from 4 the Province currently sit in 3rd position and a win over the Ospreys would see them leapfrog the Welsh region to second.

Connacht XV to face the Ospreys (Friday 30th September - Liberty Stadium, Swansea 19.30 - live on S4C)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)
14 Brian Tuohy
13 Eoin Griffin
12 Henry Fa'afili
11 Tiernan O'Halloran
10 Niall O'Connor
9 Frank Murphy
1 Brett Wilkinson
2 Ethienne Reynecke
3 Dylan Rogers
4 Michael Swift
5 Mike McCarthy
6 TJ Anderson
7 Johnny O'Connor
8 John Muldoon

16 Adrian Flavin
17 Ronan Loughney
18 Stewart Maguire
19 Dave Gannon
20 Ray Ofisa
21 Paul O'Donohoe
22 Matthew Jarvis
23 James Loxton

OldRio

Not on S4C.

RTE2 and BBC2 NI and BBC2 Wales have Dragons v Ulster

porterbelly

Connacht Rugby have announced the team that will face the Ospreys tomorrow night in the Liberty Stadium.

Following last weekend’s home win over the Dragons Head Coach Eric Elwood has opted to keep the backline unchanged with Gavin Duffy captaining the side from fullback, Eoin Griffin and Henry Fa’afili in the centre and Brian Tuohy and Tiernan O’Halloran on the wings. The halfback pairing of Frank Murphy and Niall O’Connor remains with Paul O’Donohoe and Matthew Jarvis providing cover from the bench along with former Blues winger James Loxton.

A change in the frontrow sees Dylan Rogers replace Rodney Ah You at tighthead. Stuart Maguire covers that position from the bench. Michael Swift has recovered from the illness that ruled him out of contention last week and returns to the starting lineup while Dave Gannon moves to the bench. The other change in the pack sees TJ Anderson making his competitive start for the Province at blindside flanker. The 28 year old Magherafelt-born former Ulsterman replaces Ray Ofisa who moves to the bench. Brett Wilkinson and Ethienne Reynecke join Rogers in the front row with Flavin and Loughney backing them up while Mike McCarthy joins Michael Swift in the second row.

Connacht will be hoping to build on last week’s success over the Dragons in the Sportsground. With 3 wins from 4 the Province currently sit in 3rd position and a win over the Ospreys would see them leapfrog the Welsh region to second.

Connacht XV to face the Ospreys (Friday 30th September – Liberty Stadium, Swansea 19.30 – live on S4C)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Brian Tuohy

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Henry Fa’afili

11 Tiernan O’Halloran

10 Niall O’Connor

9 Frank Murphy

1 Brett Wilkinson

2 Ethienne Reynecke

3 Dylan Rogers

4 Michael Swift

5 Mike McCarthy

6 TJ Anderson

7 Johnny O’Connor

8 John Muldoon



16 Adrian Flavin

17 Ronan Loughney

18 Stewart Maguire

19 Dave Gannon

20 Ray Ofisa

21 Paul O’Donohoe

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 James Loxton

porterbelly

15 Barry Davies

14 Richard Fussell

13 Tom Isaacs

12 Andrew Bishop

11 Hanno Dirksen

10 Dan Biggar

9 Rhys Webb


1 Duncan Jones

2 Richard Hibbard

3 Aaron Jarvis

4 Ian Gough

5 Ian Evans

6 Tom Smith

7 Justin Tipuric (Capt)

8 Jonathan Thomas



Replacements:

16 Mefin Davies

17 Cai Griffiths

18 Joe Rees

19 James King

20 Joe Bearman

21 Matthew Morgan

22 Sonny Parker

23 Kristian Phillips

porterbelly

OldRio wrote: »

Not on S4C.

RTE2 and BBC2 NI and BBC2 Wales have Dragons v Ulster

No surprise there

Robbo

A top of the table clash and not on the telly?

I'm surprised he's stuck with the same starting half-back pairing as last week although at least it gives him something to spring off the bench like against the Dragons. Good to see Swifty back in, I wasn't expecting him quite so soon, likewise Ray on the bench.

Hopefully the the times we've gone up against a "weakened" Sprays at the Liberty and come away with shag all will be another feature of the Bradley era, banished to the past.

irishbucsfan

Very tough Ospreys team.

Can't understand the persistence with O'Connor!

_blank_

I've merged threads lads, is the game on S4C or not, if not I'll amend the title.

Cheers

justsomebloke

Des wrote: »

I've merged threads lads, is the game on S4C or not, if not I'll amend the title.

Cheers

don't know. Connacht site says it is on S4C, but S4C don't have it listed

Robbo

Des wrote: »

I've merged threads lads, is the game on S4C or not, if not I'll amend the title.

Cheers

Checked the Sky EPG, nothing on S4C.

fatguy2k1

it's not on s4c - it should have been changed by now on the Conancht website.

Zzippy

After last week's performance I thought he would have picked Jarvis ahead of O'Connor, but at least he's there to come off the bench. Otherwise happy with that team, good to see Swifty back too.
I'd take a losing bonus point here...

Robbo

Dust off the ould wireless, it's nearly Radio Rob time.

I'd like to see the lads have a fair old cut at this one notwithstanding the Leinster game next week.

Robbo

7 mins, 7-0. Davies try, converted by Biggar.

evil_seed

sounds like a good fast game, with connacht even winning a good few turnovers. not able to do much yet

Robbo

Biggar hit the posts with a penalty.

porterbelly

evil_seed wrote: »

sounds like a good fast game, with connacht even winning a good few turnovers. not able to do much yet

Concrete showing the way at the breakdown with 2 turnovers in the 1st 15 mins

Robbo

Couple of chances so far, need to get a foot hold in this.

Robbo

Duffy over, tidy.

7-5. Conversion to come.

Sounds like Reynecke is having a good game.

Tricky conversion made.

7-7.

porterbelly

Brilliant try

Duffy could have 3 now

COME ON LADS

pmcd22

COOOOOOOONNNNNNNN Nacht

Tight game.. sounds good listening from radio and twitter updates

Robbo

17-7, soft try.

porterbelly

17-10 ht

Have to be happy with that

Would take that at full time

They sound very dangerous on the counter attack. Have to limit turnover ball and sloppy kicks

Robbo

porterbelly wrote: »

17-10 ht

Have to be happy with that

Would take that at full time

They sound very dangerous on the counter attack. Have to limit turnover ball and sloppy kicks

I'd be happy with the losing BP but we seem to be solid if impatient when we have the ball.

Robbo

Flavin on for Reynecke, Loxton on for Griffin and onto the wing. O'Halloran in the center?

Robbo

FFS Galway Bay FM, get back to it. No point ****ting on about county hurling games as all the results will be under appeal until 2017.

Robbo

20-10. Tupiric carded. Jarvis on for Loxton, injury.

Robbo

Try! Crossfield kick from O'Connor, Duffy over.

thomond2006

Looks like Ulster and Munster won't win tonight, c'mon Connacht!

porterbelly

COME ON BOYS

Super maul leads to a peno.

porterbelly

Long way out, missed from Jarvis. Should have gone to touch

Robbo

Lineout in their 22, come on lads

CIARAN_BOYLE

Does anyone know if Aaron Jarvis is related to Mathew Jarvis??

Robbo

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Does anyone know if Aaron Jarvis is related to Mathew Jarvis??

No idea, but Andrew Maxwell's brother's just come on.

O'Donoghue on for Murphy at SH.

porterbelly

Bad mistake

Bonus could be gone now

We should be winning this, if we don't get a bonus it will be cruel

porterbelly

23-15, we deserve better. Not efficient enough

porterbelly

NOC drop goal. 23-18 Bonus point on

Connacht ball in hand, last minute.

porterbelly

Peno Ospreys, Biggar slots it, no bonus

thomond2006

****, unlucky. Bad night for the provinces.

Edit: Oh they got the BP! well done haha

porterbelly

Peno for NOC, please knock it over

SparKing

well, got the bp in the end

porterbelly

Nails it. FT 26-21

Robbo

Bonus.

O'Connor with a pen, last kick of the game.

Robbo

I would have been happy with the losing BP before the game but I feel a bit deflated that we lost that one.

Shipped a soft try and seemed to play the bulk of the rugby.

Injuries for next week Anderson, Loxton and Griffin. I wonder will Eoghan Grace get a look in if there's a space going in the back row. Anyone heard anything about Dave McSharry?

porterbelly

Take a bow lads, great performance, deserved a win

GerM

There's a steel developing in this Connacht side that hasn't been seen before. Strangely, they always seem to do alright against Ospreys but even so, this is a very impressive result. If they were ahead and were beaten, settling for the BP I'd be less impressed. To grind out a BP when behind and seemingly buried takes character.

porterbelly

Robbo wrote: »

I would have been happy with the losing BP before the game but I feel a bit deflated that we lost that one.

Shipped a soft try and seemed to play the bulk of the rugby.

Injuries for next week Anderson, Loxton and Griffin. I wonder will Eoghan Grace get a look in if there's a space going in the back row. Anyone heard anything about Dave McSharry?

McSharry is starting for UCD in the AIL tomorrow
Eoghan Grace is starting for Buccs

If Griffin and Loxton are out (who knows they may be fine), I could see McCrea being brought in on the wing, O'Halloran to 15 and Duffy to 13. That or McCrea to 13. That would leave room for a back 3 player on the bench. Fetu'u Vainikolo possibly ? That's if he's fit and ready to go. Failing that we'll be looking at McSharry, or else into the academy.

seanin4711

GerM wrote: »

There's a steel developing in this Connacht side that hasn't been seen before. Strangely, they always seem to do alright against Ospreys but even so, this is a very impressive result. If they were ahead and were beaten, settling for the BP I'd be less impressed. To grind out a BP when behind and seemingly buried takes character.

+1

porterbelly

Lets hope this character can be brought to the RDS next week. Hopefully with a clean bill of health from last night we stand a fighting chance. If we had George at 8 I'd really fancy us. A trio of Mul, Concrete, George would be a big challenge, for likes of the Auva'a and the Ruddock brothers. We look to have a big advantage at the breakdown as it is.

Robbo

porterbelly wrote: »

McSharry is starting for UCD in the AIL tomorrow
Eoghan Grace is starting for Buccs

If Griffin and Loxton are out (who knows they may be fine), I could see McCrea being brought in on the wing, O'Halloran to 15 and Duffy to 13. That or McCrea to 13. That would leave room for a back 3 player on the bench. Fetu'u Vainikolo possibly ? That's if he's fit and ready to go. Failing that we'll be looking at McSharry, or else into the academy.

Grace tweeted that he played the full 80 for Buccs.