HEC: Biarritz vs Connacht, Fri 14 Dec 8pm; Sky Sports 2

thomond2006

Biarritz:
L'équipe du BOPB qui affrontera ce vendredi le Connacht à Aguiléra sera la suivante :

1- Barcella
2- August
3- Gomez Kodela
4- Lund E.
5- Taela
6- Lauret
7- Lakafia
8- Harinordoquy (c.)
9- Yachvili
10- Peyrelongue
11- Brew
12- Traille
13- Barraque
14- Ngwenya
15- Balshaw

16- Genevois
17- Blaauw
18- Synaeghel
19- Dubarry
20- Lund M.
21- Lesgourgues
22- Burotu
23- Bosch

Connacht XV
15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Tiernan O’Halloran
13. Danie Poolman
12. Dave McSharry
11. Fetu’u Vainikolo
10. Dan Parks (captain)
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Ronan Loughney
4. Mick Kearney
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Andrew Browne
7. Johnny O’Connor
8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements (from):
16. Ethienne Reynecke
17. Denis Buckley
18. Nathan White
19. Danny Qualter
20. George Naoupu
21. Paul O’Donohoe
22. Miah Nikora
23. Matthew Jarvis

Unavailable through injury: Gavin Duffy, Willie Faloon, Mata Fifita, Eoin Griffin, Shane Layden, Darragh Leader, John Muldoon, Frank Murphy, Dave Nolan, Kyle Tonetti*

*Kyle Tonetti has been in Germany this week undergoing intensive treatment on his recurring hamstring problem. Dr Hans Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, the specialist whose patients include Usain Bolt, has treated both Eoin Griffin and Danie Poolman this season. Centre Tonetti will return to Connacht Rugby early next week and hopes to be back training in the next two weeks.

Henshaw has agreed a two year deal: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15183/8329373/Robbie-Henshaw-commits-his-future-to-Connacht-after-agreeing-two-year-deal

Tox56

Will be good to get a proper look at Henshaw and McSharry, a Connacht match that is on TV and doesn't coincide with another province's game has been rare enough this season

thomond2006

Dr Hans Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt

epic name! :pac:

.ak

Is this the first game Parks has captained?

CIARAN_BOYLE

.ak wrote: »

Is this the first game Parks has captained?

He was captain last week too

seanm92

Nope he was captain last week too, maybe against the dragons as well not sure though

BeardySi

Connacht by more than 14

Gonna be a tough one, but looking forward to actually being able to go see a match in a pub for once!

freyners

good feeling about this one, similar to last week. hopefully we will have the same result

wp_rathead

Connacht by 1-14

George, Buckley and White all on bench- important as I see this as being a bruising dogfight and will need to have reinforcements ready and they are 3 top players to be able to call on..

I can't wait, was going to head to pub to watch it but decided I will watch it on Sky Sports HD at home with few cans and a Roast

I fully believe we are capabe of getting a LBP which would set us up well for shot at Amlin

Having Harinordoquy back is massive boost for them

4PP

Connacht by 1-14

Biarritz weather;

Vendredi 14
Pluies éparses10°C | 15°CUV 1Vent >Vent sud-sud-ouest30 km/hRafales 85 km/h Détails

• Matin13°C(Ressentie 10°C)Vent Vent sud45 km/hRafales 95 km/h
• Après-midi14°C(Ressentie 12°C)Vent Vent sud-sud-ouest30 km/hRafales 85 km/h
• Soirée13°C(Ressentie 11°C)Vent Vent sud25 km/hRafales -

4PP

Connacht by 1-14

With that weather Connacht should feel right at home.
Connacht +16 is available @ 10/11

porterbelly

4PP wrote: »

With that weather Connacht should feel right at home.
Connacht +16 is available.

Have you seen us play of late?

The drier and calmer the better with the threat in the backs we have.

Having said that, +16 is generous

its_phil

4PP wrote: »

With that weather Connacht should feel right at home.
Connacht +16 is available @ 10/11

Nope, we like playing wide ball. An arm wrestle with Biarritz or most teams is not ideal.

4PP

Connacht by 1-14

porterbelly wrote: »

Have you seen us play of late?

The drier and calmer the better with the threat in the backs we have.

Having said that, +16 is generous

Nope, first time I've seen Connacht this season was last week. I am French based & they rarely get on the telly over here.

I was very impressed with the backs, particularly Henshaw, Marmion too.

If I am suggesting the +16 its because BO are a team in disarray for reasons there is no need to go into on this thread.

Backs to the wall they need a win. It won't be pretty & they will most likely get it but their predicament & the weather means imho that if C play smart they can get an LBP.

In their faces from the off. BO are brittle at the 'mo. Hairydonkey may be Captain tomorrow night but he's back from a long layoff. It won't take much to instill doubt. Rodriguez has the reins now but he was "moved" by Blanco before to allow the pair he just fired, in.
In all that time there have not been huge changes in the squad. Mentally guys are packing their bags.

If C let them play they lose by 30. They have to get stuck in early on & then hang on. The weather will help in that respect.

Btw I've also backed C to win (not impossible imho) & the draw with smaller stakes obviously.

I believe C have nothing to fear.

its_phil

4PP wrote: »

Nope, first time I've seen Connacht this season was last week. I am French based & they rarely get on the telly over here.

I was very impressed with the backs, particularly Henshaw, Marmion too.

If I am suggesting the +16 its because BO are a team in disarray for reasons there is no need to go into on this thread.

Yep I've gone on +16 too. We may need to brings George on in the second half with the weather.

anthcunn

Anyone on here going to the match? I'm heading there tomorrow and wondering is there an area everyone is descening upon?

wp_rathead

Connacht by 1-14

anthcunn wrote: »

Anyone on here going to the match? I'm heading there tomorrow and wondering is there an area everyone is descening upon?

Unfort I couldn't get work of to go myself, but Red Bar is the main rugby bar in Biarritz, is where everyone I believe;)

eyeball kid

Just rang the local pub there to confirm that they are showing the match. No futile searching for crappy streams ( for this weekend anyway). Can't wait. Going to get down there nice and early and bags a good seat.

I know Biarritz might have their minds on next weekends Top 14 but I'd imagine they will be desperate to beat us at home. Its great to have George and Nathan White back on the bench. I'd imagine we're going to need them tonight.

Come on Connacht!

Lapin

Where's the best pub in town to watch the match ?

I was thinking O'Connell's but it can get very cramped and the screen is small.

The Huntsman is a bit out of the way.

I reckon the pubs around Quay St will be mobbed with Christmas parties and students breaking up from college.

Any suggestions for a bar with a good atmosphere centered around the game ?

blackhound

The connacht clan are meeting in Skeffs to watch the match so you're bound to get an atmosphere there for it.

wp_rathead

Connacht by 1-14

@Lapin
Blackhound is right, Clan xmas party over in Skeffs- free food and all that jazz

Personally, I'm at home watching and slowly getting drunk while my dinner is being cooked
Only two more hours- eeeeeeeeek

Lapin

Skeff it is then.

Never thought of that place and I was in it only yesterday.

Neil3030

Are any Sports Channels in North America showing this?

marco_polo

Neil3030 wrote: »

Are any Sports Channels in North America showing this?

Bizzarly Foxsoccer Plus had the HEC rights last year watched the final in a bar in Orlando.

No idea if it is the same this year or if tonights game is on though. If it isn't the only other outside possibility that i can think of would be setanta.

AngeGal

Neil3030 wrote: »

Are any Sports Channels in North America showing this?

The stream request thread is usually helpful if you can't find it.

duckysauce

Connacht by more than 14

Jesus it pissing down there , puts Galways rain to shame

Robbo

I've seen pics of the pitch and its sodden.

Robbo

Robbo wrote: »

I've seen pics of the pitch and its sodden.

Mild night by Connacht standards

Grimebox

Connacht by 1-14

Pitch is a wreck! They were sweeping water around just there for some reason

matthew8

Sportsfile have some pitch pictures:
http://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/1212101/

steve9859

I thought games were generally called off when there is so much standing water....in case someone gets caught at the bottom of a ruck with their face in the water....

Scioch

Connacht by 1-14

State of the pitch :eek:

Diabhal Beag

Fully expect Blanco to come on in the second half :pac:

freyners

that pitch is kack

Scioch

Connacht by 1-14

This is going to be one messy game.

super_furry

This is ridiculous. Surely they have to be concerned about the player's welfare in these conditions?

irishbucsfan

A wee bit damp. Nice Connacht/Parks weather.

A win would be unreal

errlloyd

Game is unplayable. Most Irish section A schools have better drainage.

thomond2006

I'm amazed this game got the go-ahead.

its_phil

irishbucsfan wrote: »

A wee bit damp. Nice Connacht/Parks weather

Nope it's not. The wet weather does not suit us anymore, those days are dead.

irishbucsfan

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm amazed this game got the go-ahead.

Blanco's hair is already wet so there's no reason for the ERC to call it off

lologram

Not convinced that game should have gone ahead or that it will see the full 80

Inspector Coptoor

Connacht by 1-14

Very angsty so far.
I expect a few yellows throughout the game.

errlloyd

its_phil wrote: »

Nope it's not. The wet weather does not suit us anymore, those days are dead.

I think as a general rule wet weather suits Irish teams and underdogs.

its_phil

Surely that was a maul?

freyners

this game should not have gone ahead, that pitch is ridiculously poor

Third_Echelon

The water is starting to gather again in large spots... They'll need to push the water off the pitch every 20 minutes it seems...

Both kits are turning brown. Going to be hard to tell them apart soon! :-)

Grimebox

Connacht by 1-14

lologram wrote: »

Not convinced that game should have gone ahead or that it will see the full 80

Has it ever happened that a game was called off after already giving it the go-ahead? Seems a bit stupid to me

duckysauce

Connacht by more than 14

tits

irishbucsfan

Hahahahahahhahahahahahaha

conormccarthy92

what a fail