Connacht vs Glasgow Warriors -18th Feb 5:30 -TG4

its_phil

Connacht take on Glasgow tomorrow in a game between 3rd place and 3rd last. The fortunes of Glasgow is quite a contrast compared to last year when Glasgow finished 11th, while Connacht are battling at the footend of the table once again.

The game also sees the return of CP's and Connacht fan favourite Troy Nathan return to the province that gave him 74 appearances in a 4 year stint out west. Nathan has so far made a good start to life with the Warriors having set up a winning try against Bath in the Heineken Cup and doing the business himself with a vital score against Ulster in November. His 13 appearances so far have proved a successful transfer to Scotland.

Connacht go into the game on a 10 game RaboDirect Pro12 losing streak but their famous Heineken Cup win versus Premiership leaders Harlequins in January will ensure that Connacht players go into this game with a knowledge of how to win. While the loss to the Cardiff Blues in the Arms Park was marred by simple mistakes disrupting simple try scoring opportunities, but the great break and interplay involving Gavin Duffy and Tiernan O'Halloran from their own 22 to put Dave Moore in the final minute of the game to record a bonus point will be cause for encouragement.

Eoghan Grace makes only his second start for Connacht at openside flanker and his performance will be interesting to see on the basis of impressive performances for Buccaneers. His start comes due to the knee injury suffered by Ray Ofisa last week. Dave McSharry drops out of the squad and incomes Henry Fa'afili for an opportunity at 12, but the return of Eoin Griffin to the bench will come as a welcome relief to Connacht fans who have been missing their most prospective player.

Glasgow come into the game on the back of their 5th straight home win in the Pro12 and will be looking to end their 2 year losing streak versus Connacht at all venues including a 37-8 try bonus point mauling last year in the Sportsground. Sean Linnen makes one change at hooker with Pat MacArtur replacing Dougie Hall. Rabodirect Pro12 leading scorer Duncan Weir sits on the bench and could make a huge impact if this game goes down to the wire with a strong wind, but not much rain, expected tomorrow.

Nathan will be looking to upset his former employers and end the rot, but Glasgow have not enjoyed a win in the west of Ireland since 2007. But if Connacht can take the chances they passed on in Cardiff they should extend that record for another season.

CONNACHT: G Duffy (c): F Vainikolo. K Tonetti, H Fa’afili, T O’Halloran; N O’Connor, P O’Donohoe; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Loughney; M Swift, M McCArthy; J Muldoon, E Grace, G Naoupu. Replacements: E Renecke, D Buckley, S Maguire, D Gannon, M Kearney, D Moore, M Jarvis, E Griffin

GLASGOW WARRIORS: Peter Murchie. Tommy Seymour, Troy Nathan, Graeme Morrison (c), David Lemi, Ruaridh Jackson, Henry Pyrgos; Ryan Grant, Pat MacArthur, Jon Welsh, Rob Verbakel, Tom Ryder, Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Ryan Wilson. Replacements: 16 Finlay Gillies, Gordon Reid, George Hunter, Nick Campbell, Duncan Weir, Alex Dunbar, Colin Shaw, Calum Forrester

Robbo

I'm hugely interested to see how Grace goes in this one. It's a huge chance for him to make a name for himself with Ray's future looking cloudy, O'Connor injured and Muldoon at 7 doesn't work for many reasons.

I note that Paddy Power have us at -2 in the handicap for this. The weather forecast, as always is cold, wind and rain. This match will be played up front.

I toyed with the idea of making a "Troy I'm pregnant" banner for this...

PhatPiggins

I genuinely think this is a game Connacht can win. I really hope so too.

PhatPiggins

Robbo wrote: »

I'm hugely interested to see how Grace goes in this one. It's a huge chance for him to make a name for himself with Ray's future looking cloudy, O'Connor injured and Muldoon at 7 doesn't work for many reasons.

I note that Paddy Power have us at -2 in the handicap for this. The weather forecast, as always is cold, wind and rain. This match will be played up front.

I toyed with the idea of making a "Troy I'm pregnant" banner for this...

:pac::pac::pac: You really should. If Nathan's reputation is even half true you'd need about 2 dozen of them sprinkled around the crowd to make it a more realistic representation.

Fireball07

I hope Connacht win, I definitely think it's a game they can target for a victory but NOC is just not good enough at out-half.

Good to see Griffin back, class player. Is McSharry injured or is there another reason for him not being included?

connemara man

Its definitely a game Connacht can Target for the win, I am worried about NOC though

wp_rathead

Quins game seems so long ago, cannot wait to get back into the clan with the watered down free "pint":cool:

feel we can win this one, but I'v been saying that all season about games we somehow find ways of losing, so while I'm not holding my breadth I am hoping we get the 4 points

Just substitute Troy for Tiger

Could get Galway airport some use aswell..

phog

The Glasgow team caught up on Galway traffic, make their way to their hotel by foot. They'll be wrecked for the game Tweeted by Troy Nathan

CIARAN_BOYLE

Flavin looked a little confused there when called up and told you are in charge of your scrum.

freyners

hail mary from noc there

liam12989

H/T Connacht 3-7 Glasgow...awful to watch

freyners

that was quality by vianakolo

Hagz

This is such a crap game.

liam12989

Griffin now on for tonetti...and moore on for POD

get jarvis on too cant get much worse

10-3 now to glasgow

GerM

Here we go, this could get Connacht back in. Yellow card (deserved) and penalty to get them back within 4 with 20 to play.

EDIT: And they go to the corner. This better pay off because that was kickable.

liam12989

penalty on their 22

yellow card glasgow wing seymourafter 60mins

connacht go to cprner

CIARAN_BOYLE

TOH try good job man and a nice crossfield kick leading to it

liam12989

try o halloran

eyeball kid

O'Connor with the conversion. 10-10 now.

cityman 18

Connacht the marginally better team so far, but as per usual its not showing on the scoreboard as of yet. 10-10 67mins gone.

liam12989

stupid penalty to give away by grace

CIARAN_BOYLE

liam12989 wrote: »

stupid penalty to give away by grace

agreed there wasn't need for it imo

GerM

That was a stupid and cynical penalty to concede. Should have seen yellow for it. 13-10 to Glasgow. Grace won't be doing his chances of breaking into the side any favours with that.

liam12989

13-10 down

cityman 18

Stupid penalty to concede by Eoin Grace, 13-10 to Glasgow now. Dave Moore has been a good addition since he came on imo.

liam12989

glasow gone to TMO..no try i think

CIARAN_BOYLE

no try

Grace is off for D Gannon (I haven't seen him for a while is this his first game back after injury)

cityman 18

Sucicdal defending at the ruck again. Great tackle from Muldoon to save a certain try there. Glasgow back to 15 men again

GerM

Doesn't matter if Connacht hold them out, all the play is in their own 22 and the clock is dwindling. They need to get down the pitch fast. 5 minutes left.

Weir kicks it away. Silly, eat up the clock for another minute and drop goal was the way to go. Warriors recover at halfway.

EDIT: Connacht penalty. One last big effort!

liam12989

penalty connacht go for conrenr

CIARAN_BOYLE

need to win the scrum

GerM

This will be last passage of play. 30 seconds on clock. Couple of phases and game. Need something off scrum.

Penalty! Kick to draw!

CIARAN_BOYLE

They did the job, penaltty and go for the draw or tap and go and hope for a win

They are going for the draw come on NOC

CIARAN_BOYLE

made

freyners

well done noc

Teferi

13 - 13 final score.

Dramatic finish from Connacht!

RuggieBear

nice kick

eyeball kid

Decent kick from NOC at the end. 13-13. Better than nothing I suppose.

GerM

Horrible, horrible looking kick goes over! 13-13. Full time. Well done, Connacht. Almost an amazing 7th losing BP!

Quint2010

Great lick into the wind there. Good two points for Connacht

lologram

Decent string of results for Connacht since that shambles away to Aironi

freyners

encouragin in a way, they were the games that we were losing not so long ago, good kick by noc with that pressure over him

lot of improvement need still but im content with that result.

phog

Did Munster a favour but a win would have been better, not that I'm ungrateful.

cityman 18

Decent kick from NOC at the end, Into the wind and last play of the game. Not an easy one to get. Connacht deserved the draw in the end. poor game. Thought Moore was good when he came on. Muldoon was excellent as always as was Mike McCarthy and Swifty in the lineout. Thought POD was very poor when he was on and NOC was about 3 miles behind the ruck every time he received the ball. Having said that he set up the try and make the kick at the death. TOH was very good as well, he's becoming one of our main men at this stage. Great to see Eoin Griffen back. Super player in the making imo. Special mention to the front row at the end as well. Needed a big scrum at the end and they destroyed the Glasgow scrum when it was badly needed. Loughney and Wilkinson are becoming very decent scrummagers for Connacht.

At least we didn't lose

CatFromHue

Glasgow have a very strong away record in the Pro12.

P8 W3 L2 D3

In the games they've lost they only lost one by 2 points.

Interestingly enough Glasgow play Munster in Musgrave Park in their third last game of the season.

Podge_irl

CatFromHue wrote: »

Glasgow have a very strong away record in the Pro12.

P8 W3 L2 D3

In the games they've lost they only lost one by 2 points.

Interestingly enough Glasgow play Munster in Musgrave Park in their third last game of the season.

Only team in eons to beat Leinster at home too. They've put in quite a strong showing in the Rabo this season. Edinburgh seem to be concentrating on the HEC.

Hagz

So Connacht are 2nd from the bottom with Aironi having a spare game

CiaranMT

Ridiculous decision at the end to kick. Should have been a quick tap and truck it up with the forwards.

cgpg5

Were Glasgow missing many key players due to internationals? With respect its a game that Connacht should surely be winning

CIARAN_BOYLE

phog wrote: »

Did Munster a favour but a win would have been better, not that I'm ungrateful.

2 point lead of glasgow with a game in hand, be happy and take it. Blues are more a threat imo

its_phil

3 points from two games. It's alright, would have taken 4 but at least the rot in the pro12 is over. Would be expecting 4 against Edinburgh, I can only imagine lads will be extra psyched with return of Bradley