Connacht Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Part II

Inspector Coptoor

7 tries
5 points.
A masterclass in kicking from the tee from Ronaldson
Players taken off early and rested

A great nights work

d-gal

We should really have the attitude of chasing 4th and 5th. We are only 5points behind Ospreys now and 7points off 4th.
6 point cushion on Scarlets and 10 on Edinburgh

Robbo

We went about that in exactly the right way. Heenan's been getting sharper and sharper by the match and Muldowney is in immense form.

freyners

Healy for lions.

Ronaldson for ireland


Lam for freedom of galway

Bazzo

d-gal wrote: »

We should really have the attitude of chasing 4th and 5th. We are only 5points behind Ospreys now and 7points off 4th.
6 point cushion on Scarlets and 10 on Edinburgh

8 points on Edinburgh I think.

Hagz

freyners wrote: »

Healy for lions.

Ronaldson for ireland

The Lions is a long way away yet. Far too early to be calling for player's inclusion.

And I don't think Ronaldson has done enough to displace Sexton.

freyners

Hagz wrote: »

The Lions is a long way away yet. Far too early to be calling for player's inclusion.

And I don't think Ronaldson has done enough to displace Sexton.

Curse you and your more sober logic

Robbo

d-gal wrote: »

We should really have the attitude of chasing 4th and 5th. We are only 5points behind Ospreys now and 7points off 4th.
6 point cushion on Scarlets and 10 on Edinburgh

What's just struck me looking at the table is being only 11 points off top with 75% of the season gone.

connachta

Healy for Ireland, TOH for IrEland, and now Ronaldson for Ireland:D

galwaylad14

I'd say Healy will be disappointed not to have had his hat trick tonight, he should have finished that one had his foot in touch for.

It was very pleasing though, we looked so good in attack, capable of scoring through the pack and through backline moves.

But the most pleasing of all was Ronaldson's kicking from the tee, immense stuff, 8 from 9 in tough conditions and all bar 1 or 2 were missable kicks.

It's by far the most important task on a rugby field and it would strengthen us so much if he could manage to keep up that sort of form with the boot. He's a fine player from open play too, well able to carry the ball and he just seems to have more ability and confidence to control the game than Carty

CatFromHue

Big game next week in Cardiff.

S12b

Inspector Coptoor wrote: »

7 tries
5 points.
A masterclass in kicking from the tee from Ronaldson
Players taken off early and rested

A great nights work

And Robbie MOTM scoring the winning try for Ireland.....not a bad day at all!!

ouncer

If I were to ask a question its Finn and bealham. Rodney has not been great and dani is obviously a better winger than centre.

connachta

freyners wrote: »

Healy for lions.

Ronaldson for ireland


Lam for freedom of galway

With a more realistic approach I'd say

Henshaw for Lions in the near future
Healy and Poolman in the extended Irish squad (more than Leader IMO)
TOH may well push Mils/leader out of the first XV
Ronaldson for 10, undoubtedly (open play and kicking from the tee were class act, and TOH/Leader/Porter can find touch if he's bothered by his recent injury)

oneofakind32

CatFromHue wrote: »

Big game next week in Cardiff.

Looking at next weekend's fixtures, if we beat Blues that would take them all but out of top 6 contention. If Leinster can beat Scarlets it will really hurt their chances of 6th.

Watching Robbie today made me realise how much we have been missing him. If we can get him back from the 6N uninjured and Bundi back fit, we could be looking at huge end to the season.

Borders no.2

oneofakind32 wrote: »

Looking at next weekend's fixtures, if we beat Blues that would take them all but out of top 6 contention. If Leinster can beat Scarlets it will really hurt their chances of 6th.

Watching Robbie today made me realise how much we have been missing him. If we can get him back from the 6N uninjured and Bundi back fit, we could be looking at huge end to the season.

Being honest even if we lost to Blues I think we should finish ahead of them as they have a rotten run in but it is another very significant game. Being honest we are unlikely to get much away to Munster and we have 3 sides chasing the play offs to come to Galway so Cardiff and Zebre are the most winnable games.

Looking at Cardiff and Edinburgh earlier I think Edinburgh had enough to win that game but Cardiff struck at good times and got a few breaks. I think Cardiff is very winnable if Connacht go there with conviction they can score trys. Defence wasn't tested tonight but wasn't good enough the two weeks previous so will need to be better in that area.

typhoony

not sure of the logistics of it but if Donnybrook was available it would be big advantage if they could train there for a few days.

oneofakind32

typhoony wrote: »

not sure of the logistics of it but if Donnybrook was available it would be big advantage if they could train there for a few days.

Thats would be a matter for the Leinster Branch, could be a lot of politics involved. Ditto for UCD. Might be easier to rent out Drum, Salthill Devon's ground for the day but I don't know if that is the same type of pitch.

ouncer

connachta wrote: »

Healy for Ireland, TOH for IrEland, and now Ronaldson for Ireland:D

Healy very impressive.

wp_rathead

TOH very impressive
Also thought whole backline played better when Finn came on and moved to centre and Poolman went to wing (nothing against Niyi)

death1234567

d-gal wrote: »

We should really have the attitude of chasing 4th and 5th. We are only 5points behind Ospreys now and 7points off 4th.
6 point cushion on Scarlets and 10 on Edinburgh

No we shouldn't. Scarlets have a much easier run in than Connacht and it's going to be touch and go to stay ahead of them. Getting 6th should be the focus.

evil_seed

d-gal wrote: »

We should really have the attitude of chasing 4th and 5th. We are only 5points behind Ospreys now and 7points off 4th.
6 point cushion on Scarlets and 10 on Edinburgh

Agreed. Why not go hell for leather for one of those. You never achieve anything if you don't raise your goals

Zzippy

I think the team have been looking upwards all season, not just targeting 6th, but I wonder if at times they got a bit cocky and didn't take the other teams going for 6th seriously - the loss to Edinburgh and draw with Cardiff particularly. We have a much tougher run-in - we need to realise that we're not guaranteed wins against any team - and need to target every game like a cup final. Zebre and Cardiff are must-win games, and we will probably need at least one more win. Ulster at home is the best chance of that, maybe Ospreys in the last game if they have already secured a playoff spot and can't be overtaken, but that's not looking likely.

its_phil

I'd love to finish 4th/5th as much as anyone, but I do think we need to be measured in our approach right now. Just keeping Scarlets (who have an easier run in) at a push should be the immediate target by just winning. The Ospreys will welcome back a lot of players after the 6N and will be stronger again. Our season depends on staying strong at home and beating Zebre and Cardiff away while hoping Scarlets continue to be awful away from home. One game at a time.

Heard Bundee will be back for Gloucester and the team are desperate to win the trophy.

connachta

Cardiif isn't easy to play away. Connacht must benefit more of the " Sportsground effect" to beat two of Glasgow/Ospreys/Ulster at home. All those are winnable, these teams are less impressive than they were in the past few years

connachta

Never correct to rejoice about injuries, but those two could really help Connacht "Josh Navidi and Lucas Amorosino were injury victims"

connachta

Cuthbert, Anscombe, Kristian Dacey, Scott Andrews and Cory Allen have all been made available for selection for Friday night's home Guinness PRO12 clash with Connacht Rugby

If only Joe could do the same with Henshaw, in exchange we could rest him against Munster/Gloucester

wp_rathead

connachta wrote: »

Cuthbert, Anscombe, Kristian Dacey, Scott Andrews and Cory Allen have all been made available for selection for Friday night's home Guinness PRO12 clash with Connacht Rugby

If only Joe could do the same with Henshaw, in exchange we could rest him against Munster/Gloucester

Never in a million years gonna happen
None of those Welsh players started vs France

RobbieRuns

Robbie hurt his ankle anyway, I was worried for him. Look at the bandage around his ankle when he scores that try. He needs a rest between those test matches.

S12b

High praise for Henshaw!!

http://www.allblacks.com/News/26797/nine-things-the-all-blacks-might-have-noticed-about-the-six-nations