Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

Buer

I can completely understand why people would want Connacht to give the CC a rattle. The cup competition is a far more exciting campaign with the promise of silverware and a big day out being more likely than the league.

But, if Connacht are looking for a route into the Champions Cup, from looking at the two competitions I think the Pro14 is definitely the better of the two options. There's no reason Connacht can't finish at least 4th in their pool and have some very tricky fixtures already out of the way. They've played 4 of the 6 play off teams from last season already.

The CC is a tricky bugger this year. Ospreys have got their heads together, Clermont are going to be exceptionally hard to beat, Northampton should qualify from that pool too, Bristol's pool should be a handy one (I don't think Stade Francais are going to be bothered too much) and Quins always turn up in this competition. Connacht's pool is a really tricky one that's going to require them to win away from home in some difficult places and it's going to be a big ask for them to get a home quarter final from that pool unless opposition put out weakened sides.

Mul, it's over

That there is such debate over whether to bother taking the competition seriously says a lot about the nature of the competition itself in the context of squad depletion and performing in two leagues.

I often felt that a smaller knock out based competition would be better, I don't know anything about soccer but a competition more akin to the FA Cup would be more interesting for the second tier competition.

b.gud

Buer wrote: »

I can completely understand why people would want Connacht to give the CC a rattle. The cup competition is a far more exciting campaign with the promise of silverware and a big day out being more likely than the league.

But, if Connacht are looking for a route into the Champions Cup, from looking at the two competitions I think the Pro14 is definitely the better of the two options. There's no reason Connacht can't finish at least 4th in their pool and have some very tricky fixtures already out of the way. They've played 4 of the 6 play off teams from last season already.

The CC is a tricky bugger this year. Ospreys have got their heads together, Clermont are going to be exceptionally hard to beat, Northampton should qualify from that pool too, Bristol's pool should be a handy one (I don't think Stade Francais are going to be bothered too much) and Quins always turn up in this competition. Connacht's pool is a really tricky one that's going to require them to win away from home in some difficult places and it's going to be a big ask for them to get a home quarter final from that pool unless opposition put out weakened sides.

Imagine being the person in Stade that draws the short straw and has to tell POC that we're not really going to bother with the CC :pac:

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Personally ospreys away after Europ, is the biggest match this side of the Christmas tinecinterpros. I’d love to see Connacht win these next two games and progress in the cup but I think they can do that with a bit of rotation.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Buer wrote: »

I can completely understand why people would want Connacht to give the CC a rattle. The cup competition is a far more exciting campaign with the promise of silverware and a big day out being more likely than the league.

But, if Connacht are looking for a route into the Champions Cup, from looking at the two competitions I think the Pro14 is definitely the better of the two options. There's no reason Connacht can't finish at least 4th in their pool and have some very tricky fixtures already out of the way. They've played 4 of the 6 play off teams from last season already.

The CC is a tricky bugger this year. Ospreys have got their heads together, Clermont are going to be exceptionally hard to beat, Northampton should qualify from that pool too, Bristol's pool should be a handy one (I don't think Stade Francais are going to be bothered too much) and Quins always turn up in this competition. Connacht's pool is a really tricky one that's going to require them to win away from home in some difficult places and it's going to be a big ask for them to get a home quarter final from that pool unless opposition put out weakened sides.

So Let's focus more on qualifying for a competition we definitely won't win next season rather than one we are in this year?

Former Former

You've got a Friend in me

KBurke85 wrote: »

So Let's focus more on qualifying for a competition we definitely won't win next season rather than one we are in this year?

Pretty much.

Another year of second-tier European rugby would be very bad for Connacht. You need the big guns arriving to keep pulling in the crowds, you need to be on TV to generate the hype and keep the sponsorship coming.

So we've two rounds of Europe now, then Connacht travel to their pool rivals the Ospreys. It's a huge chance for Connacht to climb the pool table, especially if Ospreys are weakened ahead of the Wales game the following weekend.

This is an ideal chance to rotate a few guys.

Buer

KBurke85 wrote: »

So Let's focus more on qualifying for a competition we definitely won't win next season rather than one we are in this year?

100%. The impact of being in the ECC is far greater and I would have thought is the stated goal for Connacht this season.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Rotating as much as possible and still trying to top pool should be the plan. Be very happy to qualify as 5th or 6th seed, ok you have away quarter final but depending on who qualifies as seed 1/2 away quarter home semi might be an easier route. It certainly would have been in recent years albeit the competition does seem to have some stronger teams this time.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/academy-players-fitzgerald-and-de-buitlear-named-in-connacht-squad-to-face-bordeaux/

Team named

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

No Horowitz still, is leader injured? Excited to see Fitzgerald and de buitlear

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Wegians89 wrote: »

No Horowitz still, is leader injured? Excited to see Fitzgerald and de buitlear

Eagles play on Sunday I guess they need to hold a few players back for that. Maybe Horowitz will get a run out in that game

Lebute

KBurke85 wrote: »

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/academy-players-fitzgerald-and-de-buitlear-named-in-connacht-squad-to-face-bordeaux/

Team named

In the article its states Denis Buckley is named but in the team its O'Donnell.

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

KBurke85 wrote: »

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/academy-players-fitzgerald-and-de-buitlear-named-in-connacht-squad-to-face-bordeaux/

Team named

Godwin on the wing?

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Godwin on the wing is an interesting one

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Nigel Carlin did make a point after they announced Godwin signing that he could play from 10-15, personally a bit surprised to see him there but we’ll see how it works out. Hope de buitlear can take his opportunity. Would love to see another local lad break through. Potentially minutes there for him after Reece deal being called off.

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

Wegians89 wrote: »

Nigel Carlin did make a point after they announced Godwin signing that he could play from 10-15, personally a bit surprised to see him there but we’ll see how it works out. Hope de buitlear can take his opportunity. Would love to see another local lad break through. Potentially minutes there for him after Reece deal being called off.

Who dat?

sydthebeat

The Friend Zone

that bordeaux team is very much a second string... only Ducuing at 11 is a regular in their position.

could be a cricket score for connacht here if their heads are into this.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

sydthebeat wrote: »

that bordeaux team is very much a second string... only Ducuing at 11 is a regular in their position.

could be a cricket score for connacht here if their heads are into this.

Apparently they have named 4 hookers in their 23

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

evil_seed wrote: »

Who dat?

Damn auto correct got me on Horwitz too

typhoony

what age is Colm De Buitlear?

The Lost Sheep

typhoony wrote: »

what age is Colm De Buitlear?

21 at end of year

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

Is there a tmo at today's game? Thought the Begles player led with his arm on McCabe when he had to go for the HIA

yoursaviour1989

testtech05 wrote: »

Is there a tmo at today's game? Thought the Begles player led with his arm on McCabe when he had to go for the HIA

No tmo according to the radio

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Hard game to watch that, no bonus point could cost in the end. Weather and mckeon injury played big factors in missing out on that

Diabhal Beag

McCabe being unavailable for likely the next couple of games is not good. He was really getting involved in everything but he seemed to take a serious bang to the shoulder for his break for Godwin's try and also was knocked out after. I think it's a lot to expect O'Donnell to offer his impact off the bench. McCabe seems to have copped on since the Glasgow game so hopefully he isn't out too long.

Bealham minced Bordeaux's scrum when he came on. He's in excellent form after a poorish 2017 by his standards. Hard to see him missing out on international duty if he avoids injury.

Fainga'a has really settled in quickly. Lot of good carries and defensive work.

Bordeaux's clearing kicks were a class above ours all day. If we're to have an off day though much better it happened today than in the League.

As far as next week it'd be nice to have similar rotation but we might be a bit limited in front row options. Buckley was involved in warm ups but had heavy strapping on his hand. Hopefully Horwitz and Leader have excellent games tomorrow for the Eagles so they can feature against Sale.

Just a heads up for those that didn't see the match today: They use a light-green font colour on the numbers for the European kit which is not visible to the human eye.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Anyone at the match any more insight into how the debutants got on? Maksymiw looks like a big lad from the photos, side by side with Roux there's not much in it.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Bazzo wrote: »

Anyone at the match any more insight into how the debutants got on? Maksymiw looks like a big lad from the photos, side by side with Roux there's not much in it.

Maksymiw looked solid, didn’t do anything spectacular. Made a few tackles and hit rucks. He’s a lot bigger then I thought, pretty young still too. He has the makings of a good player.

De buitlear had a tough time being thrown into scrum half, so wouldn’t really judge him too hard. He had one very nice sidestep in a tight space at one point.

Fitzgerald looked pretty nervous tbh and there were one or two mistakes because of the nervous,probably didn’t help not having a proper scrum half inside him. He looks pretty light but don’t think he hid from contact. Think he could also make a good player in the near future, would hope he’s included again next week. Could need him with ronaldson out

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Anybody get down to the eagles match?

connachta

On twitter Horwitz seemed ok and Mitchell took the conversion. Interesting for next week...

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

On twitter Horwitz seemed ok and Mitchell took the conversion. Interesting for next week...

Could very well see that combination in Manchester.