Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

connachta

macslash wrote: »

I always thought a home play off was beyond us after the interpros. But a playoff is still achievable. Huge game next week now which won't be easy in SA. Hope to Christ Finlay isn't bad. We'd need an emergency replacement I'd imagine?

I am pointing (and always thought) about the European play-off.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

BigRigsOnly wrote: »

We didn’t have 1 backs move until about the 70th minute, really frustrating game today. 3 yellow cards for us is just ridiculous discipline. Onwards & upwards anyway lads

Discipline was pretty poor last week too (3 penalties for us v 11 against us). Has been all season really. Lot of issues that have been repeating which doesn’t reflect well.

FACECUTTR

Poor performance. Edinburgh were more physical and beat us up. We need a TH and 2nd row jokers.

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Poor performance. Edinburgh were more physical and beat us up. We need a TH and 2nd row jokers.

From where exactly?

Zzippy

connachta wrote: »

I am pointing (and always thought) about the European play-off.

Not this sh1t again! We had enough last season, will you give it a rest?

connachta

Zzippy wrote: »

Not this sh1t again! We had enough last season, will you give it a rest?

This season it is 100% likely. Admit it. And it's good news

realhorrorshow

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Poor performance. Edinburgh were more physical and beat us up. We need a TH and 2nd row jokers.

Missed the game, who got injured?

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Missed the game, who got injured?

Bealham. Looked bad. Leg in the brace on stretcher sucking on a green whistle

Redo91

You've got a Friend in me

That was grim. Went over to the game and sat in pissing rain for 80 mins. Not good enough to lose to Edinburgh missing as many as they were.

Utopia Parkway

Just too many poor performances this season. Had some excuse with injuries before Christmas but not so much now. Usually we make hay during the 6 nations as we don’t miss too many but to get thumped by Edinburgh’s semi reserves is not good at all.

Trip to S Africa might help given how miserable it’s been at home.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Can’t get over how bad we always seem to play in wet windy conditions especially when it’s pretty much what the players train in.

macslash

Mul, it's over

Cardiff Treviso tomorrow is a strange one. A loss will nearly rule one out while the win would being them right behind us. A draw ideal

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

Connacht need a good run in. They have had a crisis with injuries, but that's rugby! I don't know if the squad is good enough or if Friend is a poor coach?
They need to recruit for next year! That said , there is good quality in the team. They have a glut of good back rows and are deep at scrum half. The backline is fairly loaded too! I think they can put in a good run and qualify for the champions cup.

connachta

Dubinusa wrote: »

Connacht need a good run in. They have had a crisis with injuries, but that's rugby! I don't know if the squad is good enough or if Friend is a poor coach?
They need to recruit for next year! That said , there is good quality in the team. They have a glut of good back rows and are deep at scrum half. The backline is fairly loaded too! I think they can put in a good run and qualify for the champions cup.

Exactly:)

connachta

Bealham posted a pic in a boot with foot on floor.
Does it tend to indicate no surgery?

FACECUTTR

Burkie1203 wrote: »

From where exactly?

That's the problem. The lock issue has been going since November.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Bealham posted a pic in a boot with foot on floor.
Does it tend to indicate no surgery?

Not necessarily. Could be waiting for scan results swelling to go down etc

FACECUTTR

We should have Dillane back for the game Sunday and hopefully Thornbury too if the calf issue has cleared up. Has Rory Burke recovered ? if not we will be looking at McCoy and Kenny at TH. Any word on Tom Farrell?

testtech05

Some Like It TOH

FACECUTTR wrote: »

We should have Dillane back for the game Sunday and hopefully Thornbury too if the calf issue has cleared up. Has Rory Burke recovered ? if not we will be looking at McCoy and Kenny at TH. Any word on Tom Farrell?

I'd be surprised if Ultan or Dave are allowed to be involved this week purely based on the time they would be away from the Ireland squad with the game being on in SA.

We could really do with getting Gavin back if that is the case hadnt heard any update since they mentioned he was having a scan that in itself would suggest he might be out for a few weeks. Craggy rugby had Farrell on their "longer term injuries" list on the podcast last week too.....

Burkie1203

Mul, it's over

Big blow

https://twitter.com/CianTracey1/status/1232273179667845122?s=19

Boardmember101

Had heard Sean O'Brien was due back mid March, but see his foot is in a protective boot at training today. Can assume his season is done. The man has no luck

freyners

The Friend Zone

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Big blow

https://twitter.com/CianTracey1/status/1232273179667845122?s=19

Massive blow

Robertson McCoy has come on loads and have no issues with him starting the next few months but haven't seen enough of Kenny or the others and the games wills start coming thick and fast again.

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

https://www.the42.ie/finlay-bealham-5021294-Feb2020/

More info here, hopeful Finlay will be back if we make the playoffs. Heff and Dillane staying with Ireland. Murphy out this week so Tierney-Martin will be in the squad v Kings. 6 or so players due back after the Kings game

freyners

The Friend Zone

"Cillian Gallagher, Darragh Leader, Peter McCabe, Tom McCartney, Quinn Roux and Gavin Thornbury look likely to make their comebacks after this week’s game in South Africa."

Some good news!

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Pos Team Current R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 R11 R13 Total
Cardiff (h) Kings (a) Cheetahs (a) Trviso (h) Ulster (a) Ospreys (h) Munster (h) Connacht (a) Glasgow (h)
1 Edinburgh 43 4 5 1 4 0 5 1 1 1 65
Scarlets(h) Treviso (a) Treviso (h) Cardiff (h) Leinster (a) Glasgow (h) Edin (a) Scarlets (a) Connacht (h)
2 Munster 40 4 5 5 4 0 4 4 5 4 75
Munster(a) Connacht (a) Dragons (h) Kings (a) Cardiff (h) Treviso (a) Leinster (a) Munster (h) Ospreys (a)
3 Scarlets 37 1 1 5 5 4 1 0 0 4 58
Kings(a) Scarlets (h) Zebre (a) Glasgow(h) Treviso (a) Ulster (h) Cardiff (a) Edin (h) Munster (a)
4 Connacht 30 5 4 5 1 1 4 1 4 1 56
Edinburgh(a) Zebre (h) Ospreys (h) Munster(a) Scarlets (a) Kings (h) Connacht (h) Leinster (a) Dragons (a)
5 Cardiff 29 1 5 5 0 1 5 4 0 4 54
Ulster(h) Munster (h) Munster (a) Edin (a) Connacht (h) Scarlets (h) Kings (a) Cheetahs (a) Zebre (h) Dragons (a)
6 Treviso 24 0 0 1 0 1 4 4 4 1 4 43



Tight battle for 3rd 4th and 5th with three games to be played beween Scarlets, Connacht and Cardiff.

Alot of it will be down to the form of Treviso after the 6 nations.

* I rushed this - so plenty of possible errors, point them out and I'll fix them.

FACECUTTR

So what do we think of the possible team then ?
Buckley Delahunt McCoy
Makzimew Murray/Masterson
McKeon Butler Faingaa
Marmion Carthy
Robb Godwin
Healy O'Halloran Porch
Subs: Tierney-Martin McAllister Kenny
Masterson/Copeland Boyle
Blade Fitzgerald Daly

Scottmactom

Sounds like OIsin Dowling is headed west from Leinster Academy. 22year old Lock/Blindside who is behind younger academy players at both lock and 6.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Scottmactom wrote: »

Sounds like OIsin Dowling is headed west from Leinster Academy. 22year old Lock/Blindside who is behind younger academy players at both lock and 6.

Is this an emergency signing for the rest of the season or for next season?

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

Wegians89 wrote: »

Is this an emergency signing for the rest of the season or for next season?

On the Leinster thread there was mention of it but it's a signing for next season

Richie_Rich89

Mul, it's over

Dowling would walk into the Connacht first XV at blindside. Boyle is too small slash lacking physicality for 6 and Sean O'Brien is constantly injured.