Connacht V Scarlets 15th september @15.00 live on TG4

seanin4711

Hi all
This is a real test to see where we really are at present this season.
I know its early doors but with one bad loss to the blues and a less than convincing win against zebre last week lets hope for a solid performance this Saturday at the sportground.
lets be having ya!
Connacht Abu;)

Connacht XV to face Scarlets (The Sportsground – ko 15:00; live on TG4)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Tiernan O’Halloran

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Dave McSharry

11 Fetu’u Vainikolo

10 Miah Nikora

09 Kieran Marmion

01 Brett Wilkinson

02 Ethienne Reynecke

03 Nathan White

04 Michael Swift

05 Mike McCarthy

06 Andrew Browne

07 Willie Faloon

08 Eoin McKeon


Replacements from:

16 Adrian Flavin

17 Dennis Buckley

18 Rodney Ah You

19 Dave Gannon

20 Johnny O'Connor

21 Dave Moore

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 Robbie Henshaw

Scarlets team v Connacht Saturday 15th September 2012, Sportsground kick-off 3pm: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies (capt), 12 Scott Williams, 11 Nick Reynolds 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Gareth Davies, 1 Phil John, 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Sione Timani, 5 Richard Kelly, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 Kieran Murphy.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Peter Edwards, 18 Deacon Manu, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Rob McCusker, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Aled Thomas, 23 Gareth Maule.

Robbo

According to the Advertiser today; George, Muldoon and Frank Murphy are the injury concerns out of last weekend. If things don't pick up with injuries at scrumhalf, will we have Conor O'Loughlin digging out his boots?

evil_seed

Robbo wrote: »

According to the Advertiser today; George, Muldoon and Frank Murphy are the injury concerns out of last weekend. If things don't pick up with injuries at scrumhalf, will we have Conor O'Loughlin digging out his boots?

And Muldoon. We're riddled with injuries right now

seanin4711

this can only end one way,badly

Robbo

15 Gavin Duffy (C), 14 Tiernan O’Halloran, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Miah Nikora, 09 Kieran Marmion

01 Brett Wilkinson, 02 Ethienne Reynecke, 03 Nathan White, 04 Michael Swift, 05 Mike McCarthy, 06 Andrew Browne, 07 Willie Faloon, 08 Eoin McKeon

Replacements from:

16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Dennis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Dave Gannon, 20 Johnny O'Connor, 21 Dave Moore, 22 Matthew Jarvis, 23 Robbie Henshaw

And entire new backrow, first start for White. Good to see McSharry back in the mix.

thomond2006

What happened to McSharry last season? Was he riddled with injuries after the New Year?

Robbo

thomond2006 wrote: »

What happened to McSharry last season? Was he riddled with injuries after the New Year?

Injuries. I think there was ankle surgery towards the end of the season.

Wexfordboy89

still no parks is he still injured?were s loxton gone to havent seen hime in a connacht squad in ages.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

still no parks is he still injured?were s loxton gone to havent seen hime in a connacht squad in ages.

parks is injured he should be available from next week I think.

Loxton got injured at the beginning of last season and while I think he was involved preseason he didn't really impress and seems to be relegated to AIL/A rugby at the moment

GerM

thomond2006 wrote: »

What happened to McSharry last season? Was he riddled with injuries after the New Year?

One or two injuries but his form took a nose dive too. He struggled badly in a few games and found himself out of the side.

errlloyd

As much as I am a Leinster fan, I am chuffed this is being televised instead.

Though its gonna be a hard graft.

porterbelly

This could be ugly

Scarlets by 15 unless there's a monsoon and it's all scrums. In that case Scarlets by 10

its_phil

GerM wrote: »

thomond2006 wrote: »

What happened to McSharry last season? Was he riddled with injuries after the New Year?

One or two injuries but his form took a nose dive too. He struggled badly in a few games and found himself out of the side.

He was carrying injury for most the year and that's why his form dipped

its_phil

Would have liked to have seen Gannon ahead of Swift for this one

daithimacgroin

where did the new no.8 come from

Funk It

daithimacgroin wrote: »

where did the new no.8 come from

Eoin McKeon? He has played a good few games for Connacht, been hearing good things about him playing for Galwegians as well.

Not too sure if it was his debut, but thought that he did very well against Sean O'Brien in the game in the RDS on New Years day 2 seasons ago.

CIARAN_BOYLE

daithimacgroin wrote: »

where did the new no.8 come from

Connacht8 came from the academy system

This will be his 8th connacht cap

d-gal

I'm quietly confident we can sneak a win here. I think with home advantage and a superior pack we can do damage. Our pack is huge as well, some big bruisers and we should get on top of them come scrum and line out time.
As long as their back line don't get the ball, especially North vs Vainikolo

Blackheath

Great tackle from McCarthy

thomond2006

Connacht's lineout is a lottery.

Blackheath

Scarlets giving away a lot of penalties

Blackheath

Another good tackle from Browne

Blackheath

thomond2006 wrote: »

Connacht's lineout is a lottery.

Another one gone a miss

thomond2006

Connacht's scrum and excellent breakdown work is keeping them in this. Both possession and territory must be hugely in favour of Scarlets, they really should have 2 tries scored at this stage.

Fireball07

Connacht almost in there, they've done pretty well defensively so far, if they can keep Scarlets scoreless until the break that would be excellent.

Fireball07

Griffin try!

eyeball kid

Come on Connacht!!

molloyjh

Fireball07 wrote: »

Griffin try!

Well taken. Griffin looking good on the ball.

Blackheath

Well worked try

Inspector Coptoor

Great team try finished off by Griffin.
Right on half time.

Nikora couldn't add the extras.

8-0 Connacht.

Let's hope Elwood can get them in for a good chat now & that they can see out the 2nd half.

thomond2006

That pass from Nikora was something else!

Blackheath

Need to hold out now till half time

Fireball07

molloyjh wrote: »

Well taken. Griffin looking good on the ball.

Nikora did well to collect the pass from Marmion and then send it wide.

GerM

How is RP playing? His kicking was shocking last week. 1/6 I believe. He's blessed that Halfpenny has a cannon.

molloyjh

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

Great team try finished off by Griffin.
Right on half time.

Nikora couldn't add the extras.

8-0 Connacht.

Let's hope Elwood can get them in for a good chat now & that they can see out the 2nd half.

Was that Nikora that put Griffin in with that lovely pass off the deck?

EDIT: cheers lads....great pass.

Blackheath

Marmion looks a tidy player linking up well with Nikora

porterbelly

That's a super half into the gale managing to hold them scoreless and get up for a smash and grab ourselves

Mckeon, Browne and Faloon are outstanding, completely outplaying the Scarlets back row.

The hands from the forwards in the build up to that try

val_jester

GerM wrote: »

How is RP playing? His kicking was shocking last week. 1/6 I believe. He's blessed that Halfpenny has a cannon.

He is just not that good really, he went through a purple patch of about a year, and now is finding pack to his level.

Marmion is playing much better than I ever thought he was capable of when he was stinking out the Ireland u20s two years ago, he improved for them this year, and with Murphy out for a few months; he has a great chance to get some game time and improve to a reasonable standard.

Blackheath

porterbelly wrote: »

That's a super half into the gale managing to hold them scoreless and get up for a smash and grab ourselves

Mckeon, Browne and Faloon are outstanding, completely outplaying the Scarlets back row.

The hands from the forwards in the build up to that try

Connacht have some decent competition for places in the back row

ray jay

8-0 at half time.

Fireball07

Very easy try for Scarlets within a minute

Blackheath

Very poor

Blackheath

North is a beast

molloyjh

With the numbers Scarlets had there it was always going to be a try.

pcworldisajoke

Blackheath wrote: »

North is a beast

I believe the technical term is manchildeen.

Diabhal Beag

Ah ****

Blackheath

Connacht have lost the composure they showed in the 1st half

Podge_irl

Missed the first half. Considering how pathetically easily Scarlets scored two tries in 8 minutes how were they kept scoreless in the first 40

Fireball07

Awful from Connacht, completely fallen apart defensively.

eyeball kid

3rd Try for Scarlets. Can't believe it.

thomond2006

Vainikolo is a liability, I don't see what he positively contributes!

Scarlets can't really kick because of the strong wind, all Connacht have to do is make the hits like they did in the first 40 but they seem to have completely collapsed.