Treviso-Connaught. (KO, 7:30)

Losty Dublin

This game is live on TG 4 and is already a relegation dogfight. Connaught travel to Italy with their perennial injury list expanded beyond even their worst nightmares. To make things more awkward, Samoan full back James So'oialo has not received a work permit yet while Robbie Henshaw misses out due to the IRFU player welfare scheme.

Undeterred, Pat Lam has opted to rest Wilkinson and White and give game time to Rodney Ah You and future prospect Ronan Loughney in one area where his squad is strong; the front row. Aly Muldowney starts in the engine room while Parks, Duffy, O'Halloran and Fionn Carr should give the back line some experience and expectation.

Treviso have won just one game thus far; a sound thrashing of Munster 2 weeks ago. Connaught have yet to win since their win over Zebre a month ago. Expect a low scoring game with the emphasis on line outs, slow mauls and breaks from sloppy back play.

Connacht line-up v Benetton Treviso

15. Gavin Duffy
14. Tiernan O’Halloran
13. Danie Poolman
12. Eoin Griffin
11. Fionn Carr
10. Dan Parks
9. Paul O’Donohoe

1. Rodney Ah You
2. Sean Henry
3. Ronan Loughney
4. Aly Muldowney
5. Craig Clarke (captain)
6. Andrew Browne
7. Jake Heenan
8. George Naoupu

Replacements: 16. James Rael 17. Brett Wilkinson 18. Nathan White 19. John Muldoon 20. Mata Fifita 21. Kieran Marmion 22. Jack Carty 23. Matt Healy

wp_rathead

the connacht jersey is sexy as fuck

freyners

Last in positions first in jerseys

lovely break by gav

Shelflife

Griffin out with calf strain. Brian murphy straight in.

Losty Dublin

freyners wrote: »

Last in positions first in jerseys

lovely break by gav

Duffy is a great player; if he was playing outside of Connaught he'd have won a few more caps than he currently has.

Jersey's are slick, you are correct.

freyners

Thought that was slightly harsh. Pod was on that before any ruck called. Didnt hear release either

Losty Dublin

This game is manic. Connaught are running defensive turnover from their 22. After a few phases Parks fired off a clearance to Bren Williams who ran Treviso into the Connaght 22. One break and ruck and George Naopuo stepped over to pick up the ball; he found a yellow card instead. 3-0 to Treviso after 9 minutes.

freyners

Losty Dublin wrote: »

This game is manic. Connaught are running defensive turnover from their 22. After a few phases Parks fired off a clearance to Bren Williams who ran Treviso into the Connaght 22. One break and ruck and George Naopuo stepped over to pick up the ball; he found a yellow card instead. 3-0 to Treviso after 9 minutes.

pod not get the yc?

Shelflife

If the ref continues in this vein there will be a load of YC, very harsh against POD , id question if it was even a pen never mind a YC.

Losty Dublin

freyners wrote: »

pod not get the yc?

I actually thought it was Naopou as I glanced what I thought was an 8 but I was unsighted. He's still on the field so my bad

freyners

Shelflife wrote: »

If the ref continues in this vein there will be a load of YC, very harsh against POD , id question if it was even a pen never mind a YC.

Thats what I thought. No ruck called and he was contesting the ball before any Treviso player was there

Losty Dublin

Shelflife wrote: »

If the ref continues in this vein there will be a load of YC, very harsh against POD , id question if it was even a pen never mind a YC.

Hennessy seems to be over eager, that is for sure.

pappyodaniel

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Hennessy seems to be over eager, that is for sure.

He's a disaster. I've seen him ruin a few games last season which made my mind up on the guy. That was never a penalty and yellow card for O'Donoghue. It really should have been Connacht's penalty for not releasing.

Zzippy

Ref only allowing one team to contest the breakdown. Must have had a few quid on the handicap. POD was over that ball prefectly legally, it was a textbook way to get your hands on the ball and force the player to release or concede the penalty, instead he gets pinged and a YC. :rolleyes:

Edit - Treviso player gets pinged for same offence, no YC? No consistency...

Losty Dublin

That was a close call on Duffy when he was tackled at the catch; barely on the ground. Thankfully the penalty at the ruck was a soft one in our favour.

wp_rathead

Zzippy wrote: »

Ref only allowing one team to contest the breakdown. Must have had a few quid on the handicap. POD was over that ball prefectly legally, it was a textbook way to get your hands on the ball and force the player to release or concede the penalty, instead he gets pinged and a YC. :rolleyes:

Edit - Treviso player gets pinged for same offence, no YC? No consistency...

ref viewed it was try scoring hence the yellow

it would be awesome if Connacht started playing some rugby in the Treviso half any min now

freyners

Really really positive play so far. Almost too much when in our 22 tho

pappyodaniel

Zzippy wrote: »

Edit - Treviso player gets pinged for same offence, no YC? No consistency...

He probably considered the area of the pitch where the penalty conceded. That was actually another good turnover there. Hennessy is calling 'ruck' before it even forms.

freyners

RODNEY.......

wp_rathead

Rodney:rolleyes:

thomond2006

Costly knock on by Ah You.

Losty Dublin

wprathead wrote: »

ref viewed it was try scoring hence the yellow

If he stopped a probable try being scored then it should have been a PT. He probably assumed it was a vindictive breach, which it wasn't, so a harsh call IMO.

thomond2006

Duffy what the hell were you thinking?! Lump it!

freyners

Great by heenan. Poor by gav

Zzippy

Duffy you muppet! Kick the fuppin ball clear!

pappyodaniel

pappyodaniel wrote: »

He probably considered the area of the pitch where the penalty conceded. That was actually another good turnover there. Hennessy is calling 'ruck' before it even forms.

Christ he done it again!

wp_rathead

KICKTHEFOCKINGBALL

Shelflife

In fairness to Rodney a Connacht player ducked out of the way of the ball so he wouldn't have seen it coming

Zzippy

Earlier penalty for binding on the arm. Trev player does the same, right in front of ref. Reset.

Losty Dublin

Christ on a stick; what a scrum!!

wp_rathead

apart from his two knock ons, Rodney been playing pretty decent

pappyodaniel

Connacht are trying to play too much rugby in their own half.

Shelflife

Clear pen for playing the ball in an off side position and he just gives a knock on, not going to be our night, Treviso prop constantly binds on rodneys arm , nothing given, Treviso scrum destroyed back row lose their bind again nothing.

freyners

wprathead wrote: »

apart from his two knock ons, Rodney been playing pretty decent

Doing well in the scrum

freyners

Shiiiiiiiiit

wp_rathead

Hope Nathan alright for Sarries game

freyners

Bull**** call wasnt held

wp_rathead

Heenan wasn't held there

freyners

wprathead wrote: »

Heenan wasn't held there

Hennessy just handed Treviso 6 points so far

freyners

Skills by george

pod is v good so far

Shelflife

That's another very soft pen and another very soft 3 points .

wp_rathead

brutal from lineout considering we won it..

Funk It

George didn't just do a one handed pick up there did he?? Wow

Shelflife

And then stupid from George when he clearly pulls down the maul in front of the ref ................

Zzippy

Playing too much rugby in our own half, trying too hard. Scrum pretty good so far. Hennessy playing a stormer for Treviso, their best player by far. In fact, he's the difference between the teams...

freyners

Rodney playing surprisingly well, hes always been capable of a big game but its a rarity

heenan excellent, pod playing well,

gav is having a bit of a mare

ouncer

Toh into full back and Healy on the wing. Don't wait until last five minutes to make change

freyners

Fionn was perfect but no support frustrating

CatFromHue

Hahahahaha that's a ridiculous try to give away!

Irlandczyk

Absolute shambles... this game is painful to watch

ouncer

And so ends Gavin. Desperate