Connacht -v- Cardiff Blues - September 1st 17:00 - No TV

Robbo

Since it's nearly upon us, I'll start the match thread here. Connacht won't be naming a team until late on due to injuries. Definitely out are Dave Nolan, Paul O'Donoghue, Jason Harris-Wright, Brian Murphy, Eoghan McKeon.

Reading between the lines in today's Advertiser piece, I'm getting this:

15. Duffy 14. Vainikolo (Whoever has working legs in the centre) 11. O'Halloran 10. Nikora 9. Moore

1. Buckley 2. Reynecke 3. Loughney 4. Swift 5. McCarthy 6. Muldoon 7. O'Connor 8. Naoupu

I'll leave guessing the bench to someone else.

Cardiff welcome in Lou Reed from the Velvet Underground and Andy Kyriacou from Ulster but are missing a number of internationals (Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny, Bradley Davies and Alex Cuthbert) due to player welfare, Jamie Roberts and Jason Tovey are injured so, all told, it's as weak a Blues side as you'll see.

I'd expect Connacht to shade it in a game that's going to be won up front, with Parks coming off the bench to seal the deal. The weather forecast is for rain.

Betting: Connacht +3 (10/11), Cardiff -3 (10/11), Draw 18/1 [Paddy Power]

No TV (not much of it at all this season) but Galway Bay FM will do their usual commentary (I recommend using Tunein Radio on our choice of smartphone).

freyners

connacht at + 3, tempting

BeardySi

No TV? guess I'll be getting on the bus then!

thomond2006

This is a big litmus test for Connacht, Cardiff will be seriously weak without those missing players.

f1dan

Robbo wrote: »

I'd expect Connacht to shade it in a game that's going to be won up front, with Parks coming off the bench to seal the deal. The weather forecast is for rain.

I was under the impression he was almost definitely out with a calf strain.

CatFromHue

Cardiff lost at home to Worchester, away to Gloucester, and away to Bath in the pre season. Add in the players that Cardiff are missing (that are still with them) I do hope that Connacht can get the ball rolling straight away!

BeardySi

f1dan wrote: »

I was under the impression he was almost definitely out with a calf strain.

Yup, no Parks...

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2012083182964/connacht-announce-xv-to-face-cardiff-blues-in-season-opener

leeroybrown

Good to see Griffin back at centre. I hope he's actually fit and not playing carrying in injury like he did for most of last season. It'll be interesting to see if Fifita can make the step up from AIL.

I'm delighted to see Marmion get a start at scrum half too. I think we've struggled for consistency at scrum half so I'm really looking forward to seeing what he can bring.

CatFromHue

The Cardiff team has been named:
15. Dan Fish 14. Harry Robinson 13.Gavin Evans 12. Gareth Davies 11. Tom James 10. Ceri Sweeney 9. Lewis Jones

8. Andries Pretorius (c) 7. Josh Navidi 6. Rory Watts- Jones 5. James Down 4. Robin Copeland 3. Taufa'ao Filise 2. Andi Kyriacou 1. Thomas Davies

16. Rhys Williams 17. Beniot Borrust 18. Nathan Trevett 19. Lou Reed 20. Luke Hamilton 21. Lloyd Williams 22. Cory Allen 23. Tom Williams 24. Owen Williams

Only the 2 Davies and 4 Williams in the squad!

irishbucsfan

I'm surprised they even have 24 players

thomond2006

Connacht XV
15. Gavin Duffy (Captain)
14. Tiernan O’Halloran
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Mata Fifita
11. Fetu’u Vainikolo
10. Miah Nikora
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Ethienne Reynecke
3. Ronan Loughney
4. Michael Swift
5. Mike McCarthy
6. John Muldoon
7. Johnny O’Connor
8. George Naoupu

Replacements (from):
16. Adrian Flavin
17. Rodney Ah You
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Dave Gannon
20. Willie Faloon
21. David Moore
22. Matthew Jarvis
23. Robbie Henshaw

That's a very weak Cardiff side, Connacht can take them. They are far more experienced from 4-8.

Good to see Marmion getting a start too.

roycon

connachts back row/2ndrow are a very old and grizzly looking unit now. hope to see them dominate this year a bit more. great to see marmion playing he has a quality break on him and hopefully he will be protected by the experience of naopu and oconnor at the back of the scrum adn be able to deliver some good passes. id be very tempted to stick some money on connacht.

freyners

PP site isnt showing this match:mad:

quick stop into the bokkies before the match ftw

durkadurka

freyners wrote: »

PP site isnt showing this match:mad:

quick stop into the bokkies before the match ftw

You'll have to pretty far before you encounter bokkies

thomond2006

I got Connacht +3 a few minutes ago?

Robbo

freyners wrote: »

PP site isnt showing this match:mad:

quick stop into the bokkies before the match ftw

They had odds listed when I started the thread. Perhaps they've seem the Cardiff squad and realised that they may need to readjust the odds.

I hope to god Griffin is starting because he's 100% and not being rushed back. Marmion seems to have come on leaps and bounds in the last while, his performances in the U20 World Cup were far more lively than most of what you'd get out of Frank Murphy.

It's a huge step up for Fifita and Henshaw. That said, I can't wait to get a look at both of them in action, especially Henshaw.

CatFromHue

freyners wrote: »

PP site isnt showing this match:mad:

quick stop into the bokkies before the match ftw

It was up there earlier anyway.

freyners

durkadurka wrote: »

You'll have to pretty far before you encounter bokkies

well played;)

ill keep checking but no dice so far

wp_rathead

big games for Marimon and Fifita
great to see Griffin back, I'm sure he wouldn't be played unless 100% fit- we actually have a bit of depth in our squad this season so forcing hm back early would be ridiculous
Slightly surpirsed Browne not on bench

leeroybrown

wprathead wrote: »

great to see Griffin back, I'm sure he wouldn't be played unless 100% fit- we actually have a bit of depth in our squad this season so forcing hm back early would be ridiculous

That's not quite true right now. We're carrying a lot of injuries in the centre. McSharry, Tonetti and Danie Poolman are all out. Griffin appears to have sat out a lot of pre-season and hasn't had any game time. The only player in the match squad with competitive professional experience in there is Duffy. I reckon Elwood wouldn't have been willing to start with Fifita and Henshaw so he had a choice between Griffin coming back from injury with no match practice or Duffy moving forward.

Fingers crossed he's 100% fit and makes it through without risking more of the season..

.ak

Just noticed this wasn't on TV... Any particular reason?

thomond2006

.ak wrote: »

Just noticed this wasn't on TV... Any particular reason?

TG4 showing the Leinster game?

If anything it might get more people through the turnstiles today.

.ak

Opening game of the league against decent but beatable opposition... I would've thought the numbers would be decent anyway.

wp_rathead

Only 4 Hours and 43 Minute to kick off!!!!

COOOOOOOOOOOOOONN--AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACHHHHHHHHHHTTT

RogerThis

What the story with Dan Parks? Will he be out for long with the calf strain?
Can't wait to see him in action for Connacht.

Blackheath

Any updates from tonight match?

thomond2006

Your best bet is the Connacht facebook page or twitter account.

0-3 Cardiff

RoutineBites

Blackheath wrote: »

Any updates from tonight match?

Currently Connacht 0-3 Cardiff. Twenty minutes in.

ray jay

Updates on twitter and the Pro12 site.

Robbo wrote: »

They had odds listed when I started the thread. Perhaps they've seem the Cardiff squad and realised that they may need to readjust the odds.

Good call, right before the match started Connacht were -3. A 6 point swing is an impressive vote of confidence from PP! 0-6 currently, let's hope they can pull it back.

Juwwi

0-6 now to Cardiff

are they playing with the wind does anyone know?

Prick!

0-13 Try by their scrummy Lewis Jones.

thomond2006

0-13 now

ray jay

Well, I jinxed it. Cardiff get a converted try.

Juwwi

ffs 0-13 now

ray jay

Live commentary here now. Apparently Connacht are making a huge number of mistakes.

OldRio

Match is on Galway Bay FM now

P_1

Seems its a bit windy out there, Connacht will have the wind in the 2nd half so probably not quite time to panic yet

thomond2006

Yes first game of the season and all, but if Connacht lose to this bunch...

OldRio

6-13
Gwan

OldRio

9-13

PhatPiggins

OldRio wrote: »

9-13

Much left?

CIARAN_BOYLE

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Much left?

Dunno but the last score was on the 69th minute

Nikora 3 from 5 with the boot so far

gally74

Marimion best cOnn player think we found a scrum half

OldRio

About 7mins left

OldRio

Injury time Scrum for Conn
Ffs knock on

OldRio

FT
9-13

seanin4711

new season,new kit ,new players same results.
I am not a happy bunny!:mad:
all the positives with sponsorship,new players facilities etc and fall flat yet again.
Away to zebre next week and they must be looking forward to playing us I reckon!:(:(:(:(:(

thomond2006

gally74 wrote: »

Marimion best cOnn player think we found a scrum half

That's good news, ye've badly lacked one.

Awful result though, unless those Cardiff youngsters are fantastic Connacht should have taken them really.

gally74

It was a typical first game in the season, I got soaked!!! Nikora distribution was shocking kick kick kick

thomond2006

gally74 wrote: »

It was a typical first game in the season, I got soaked!!! Nikora distribution was shocking kick kick kick

Get used to that when Dan Parks comes back!

wp_rathead

gally74 wrote: »

Marimion best cOnn player think we found a scrum half

Not saying much infairness, we were very poor- Duffy and George can hold heads up high and even George wasn't great
Marimon had some great breaks in 2nd half, but he had pretty poor game imo- some his box kicking and decision making (slow ball on counter, then rushing it when nothing on)

Fetu'u, with the ball is top player but the guy couldn't catch a cold

Alot of stupid handling errors from the seasoned pro's like Macca, Muldoon etc
Reynecke, very poor lineouts- he was poor vs Munster A aswell so not a once of
Johnny O'Connor, guy is a legend, but he can be fecking frustrating- gave away pens which cost us
Scrum was solid that was a plus
And as said above, Marimon has makings of great scrum half
Duffy as ever gave his all
Griffin looked like he got a bad knock, but played on for while before being subbed- hopefully is ok

very frustrating game- thankfully things can only get better..

One moment which summed up the game- we were 7metres from Tryline on College Rd/Clan side- was a ruck- Vainkolo was free on the wing on left and instead of shouting for it, he trots back into centre of pitch, Marimon looks up to the left and doesn't see anyone so throws pass to Nikora who decides to try a garryowen to corner for TOH but wind catches it and Cardiff gather easily. Stupid.

/rant
Gonna hit the beer
Mon connacht