Connacht Rugby Thread - Part III - The Violence of the Lams

connachta

I know I'm anticipating, a little bit but for next year i'd like 95% of our great current squad
+ Steenson, Sheriff and a NIQ ambidextrous prop
It's reasonnable and enough

Bridge93

connachta wrote: »

I know I'm anticipating, a little bit but for next year i'd like 95% of our great current squad
+ Steenson, Sheriff and a NIQ ambidextrous prop
It's reasonnable and enough

I believe the term is Ambipropstrous.

That was some result. Munster were made to look extremely ordinary in their own backyard. I was one who have been waiting for what I thought would be the inevitable crash back to earth, but it doesnt seem to be coming. I felt Connacht made the most of the WC disruption to others but then would be pulled back once they all strengthened. I'm increasingly thinking this wont happen. While I don't think Connacht will win the Pro12 they are suddenly legit top 4 contenders which i for one never saw happening.
I honestly can't pick between Munster and Connacht anymore, the pecking order may be changing. Connacht look to have more potential coming through than Munster at the minute anyway. There could well be as many Connacht lads in the 6N squad as from down south.
When the top teams lose their players to the 6N squad you can see Connacht capitalising again. Even if you lose a few this time too, you have a level of strength in depth i had no idea was there.
Serious re-evaluation of my opinions of teams relative to each other is needed! No longer the plucky baby cousin of the other 3

cosalofa

connachta wrote: »

I woke up this morning having made two dreams about Connacht (one of them crazy, they were playing beach rugby against Leinster, true story!:D)

The reality is far better than anything we could have dreamt 2 years ago. For the first time as a Connacht supporter, I'm serene, peaceful.

Lose Heenan? Nepia Fox Matamua steps in
Lose Nepia? Connolly steps in brilliantly
And Moloney's next

White is 34? Bealham's ok, Menuargia promising
Naoupu's 33? Masterson already is a Masterpiece
Muldoon? SOB is indeed a 2.0 version of SOB, the future is all to take for him

Cooney out for 3 months? I rate Caolin Blade highly
And even Henshaw isn't irreplaceable, Parata looked great.

And we have McCartney, McSharry, Roux, McKeon, Marshall and Poolman on the verge of return, I can't imagine where there gonna play. The fight for any spots is absolutely incredible

You're forgetting Conan O'Donnell who has been brilliant whenever he has played.

connachta

cblaix wrote: »

You're forgetting Conan O'Donnell who has been brilliant whenever he has played.

Not forgotten, just think a prop needs one or two more years to be a regular contender by all accounts (not only scrum):)

cosalofa

As that may be (and I agree with you) he seems on be ahead of Menuargia in the pecking order.

connachta

Georgian props come to their best after 30, it's well-known;)

For Cardiff : With the magnificent win in Thomond Park, and Challenge cup to rotate the squad the week after, I'm favourable of maintaining our heroes to keep going that well....

Only personal changes would be on the bench, Marshall/Roux as 19, and Browne or McKeon as 20

Marc O Polo

Hearing henshaw may have a broken bone in his hand! Not confirmed as waiting on scans but his hand is massively swollen! So if true that's a few weeks out!!

connachta

Big blow for Connacht. Robbie Henshaw ruled out for around 6 weeks with fracture in his hand. Denis Buckley out for 3 weeks

connachta

On the other side Cardiff should be without Decey Rees Tom James and Warburton

wp_rathead

Funnily enough, while a massive blow, we could survive losing Robbie
But jaysus no Denis

Thank feck Loughney is back

b.gud

connachta wrote: »

Big blow for Connacht. Robbie Henshaw ruled out for around 6 weeks with fracture in his hand. Denis Buckley out for 3 weeks

Buckley is probably the bigger blow of the 2 in some ways. Don't get me wrong I always want to see Robbie on the team sheet but with the RWC this year we've created some depth at centre to make up for his absence.

Buckley has been an integral part of our pack for the past year and we've really come to rely on him for scrum dominance. At least Loughney is back fit though

S12b

connachta wrote: »

Big blow for Connacht. Robbie Henshaw ruled out for around 6 weeks with fracture in his hand. Denis Buckley out for 3 weeks

With Loughney back and Ronaldson, Aki, TOH in such good form, it's manageable v Cardiff and Newcastle.

Losing Robbie for the interpro's is a big blow however.

wp_rathead

Masterson out for 3 weeks aswell
Still no word on Poolman
But positives are following are available for Cardiff :
Rodney Ah You
Quin Roux
Dave McSharry
Eoin McKeon
Ben Marshall

Robbo

Sky Sports team of the week; featuring Henshaw, Aki, Muldowney, Muldoon and Connolly. As someone who spent a lot of time wondering how many more seasons Muldoon has in him, it was a real turn-back-the-clock performance, even if the Sky commentators reckon he's from Ballinasloe.

6 weeks for Henshaw plus the 6 Nations means we'll be lucky to see him play 5-6 times more this season.

This is a real chance for Dave McSharry to re-establish himself. Also the options we have to rotate the backs must make us damn near impervious to video analysis this season.

S12b

Still no word on Poolman, out since the middle of October.....that minor hamstring strain is dragging on for 6+ weeks!!

connachta

The best news is having Rodney back. So that we can switch Bealham to substitute LH of Lough, and White/AhYou for TH. Very nice, and it will let Buckley the 3 weeks he needs (but please could he be back for Ulster, that would be my best Christmas gift)

Bazzo

Also included in the update is the bad news with regards to Fox-Matamua. It was his ACL and he'll be out for up to 6 months with surgery scheduled for January.

connachta

Bazzo wrote: »

Also included in the update is the bad news with regards to Fox-Matamua. It was his ACL and he'll be out for up to 6 months with surgery scheduled for January.

Heenan isn't far at all, he should be there for Ulster

typhoony

connachta wrote: »

Heenan isn't far at all, he should be there for Ulster

i would'nt like to see him thrown straight into a high level competitive game at least not as a starter

S12b

typhoony wrote: »

i would'nt like to see him thrown straight into a high level competitive game at least not as a starter

No, lets just pray to jaysus his shoulder is finally right.....he's 2.5 years into a 3 year contract and has only been fully fit for 4 months.....shows how much of an impression he made in those 4 months!

connachta

S12b wrote: »

No, lets just pray to jaysus his shoulder is finally right.....he's 2.5 years into a 3 year contract and has only been fully fit for 4 months.....shows how much of an impression he made in those 4 months!

Yes, he's so great. he was due in October, so he had enough times to recover correctly. Play him 15 min against Newcastle and full game against Ulster. Crucial to finish 2015 on a high

Bazzo

http://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/pat-lam-reckons-signing-dan-carter-for-connacht-would-be-a-waste-of-time/52473

Lam talks about buying in players vs developing them. Seems to be a great attitude to have, he really looks to want to build at Connacht.

connachta

with squad update they are the obvious choices

1) Lough
2) Delahunt
3) White
6) Muldoon
7) Connolly
8) McKeon
9) Marms
11) Healy
12) Ron
13) Aki

17) Bealham
18) AhYou
21) Porter


And then the possibilties for Lam to choose

4/5/19 between Roux/Dillane/Marshall/Muldowney
14/15/23 Parata/Leader, TOH/Leader, Parata/TOH, Niyi/TOH, Niyi/Leader
10/21 AJ or Carty

Marc O Polo

I Wudnt be surprised to see lam give Aki a rest versus Cardiff! He's played every game and with mcsharry and parata fit, I reckon it's a strong possibility!

Cosmo Kramer

Connacht to win the Pro 12: 6-1

Any Welsh team to win the Pro 12: 9-1

Changed times.

ClanofLams

Marc O Polo wrote: »

I Wudnt be surprised to see lam give Aki a rest versus Cardiff! He's played every game and with mcsharry and parata fit, I reckon it's a strong possibility!

I would be and hope he doesn't. Aki has been of our best players all year and this is a huge game to keep the momentum going. Ronaldson and himself have really developed an understanding, not the time to disrupt that imo.

Rest him against Newcastle. Great to have viable alternatives though.

connachta

connachta wrote: »

And then the possibilties for Lam to choose

4/5/19 between Roux/Dillane/Marshall/Muldowney
14/15/23 Parata/Leader, TOH/Leader, Parata/TOH, Niyi/TOH, Niyi/Leader
10/21 AJ or Carty

Sorry I forgot n°20 Naoupu or Sean O'Brien

wp_rathead

connachta wrote: »

Yes, he's so great. he was due in October, so he had enough times to recover correctly. Play him 15 min against Newcastle and full game against Ulster. Crucial to finish 2015 on a high

After the farce of last season of bringing him in when he wasn't ready I would wait until he is 100%
Only so many times someone can reconstruct their shoulder

I know he has played every game so far but I'd play Aki against Cardiff, he seems fit and is playing magic rugby - can rest him in the two European games against Newcastle

connachta

wp_rathead wrote: »

I know he has played every game so far but I'd play Aki against Cardiff, he seems fit and is playing magic rugby - can rest him in the two European games against Newcastle

Agree with that part. McSharry/Parata can prepare their partenairship for Newcastle double-header

MarinersBlues

I wouldn't go diving in for the 6/1 just yet.
If you really want I'll lay you 2/1 or even 6/4 if you ask me nicely.

http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/uk-ireland/guinness-pro12/grand-final-winner