Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Mr Tickle wrote: »

You might be right but i'd be surprised if they were allowed since Horwitz is there. He hasn't played a lot yet and he's a young lad so I think it's worth reserving judgement until closer to the end of his contract.
Even Jack was hit and miss before he became a multiple capped, 100% international kicker he is today.

He could come good but with carty looking ever likely to be going to the World Cup, Connacht are essentially left with three centers Horwitz, ronaldson and Godwin, a young inexperienced ten in Fitzgerald and the possibility of Luke carty or deane featuring for the start of the season next year. As we’ve seen before world cup years can give you a great chance to build early momentum.

Mr Tickle

Wegians89 wrote: »

He could come good but with carty looking ever likely to be going to the World Cup, Connacht are essentially left with three centers Horwitz, ronaldson and Godwin, a young inexperienced ten in Fitzgerald and the possibility of Luke carty or deane featuring for the start of the season next year. As we’ve seen before world cup years can give you a great chance to build early momentum.

Is Ronaldson not out of contract? I'd be surprised if he gets another. He's had some great games but the injuries are making it hard to justify.
It might be a good opportunity for Fitzgerald and Horwitz to get tested.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Connacht A 22-0 up v Ulster.

The game v New England is on YouTube here https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H5D46tBcDvI

Don’t think tonight’s is being streamed

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Eagles won 44-21 last night, great result considering ulster hammered Connacht a few months ago in the Celtic cup. Try scorers were two for Johnny murphy and Conor Hayes, Copeland, lane and sob 3.0 all scored one each

irishgrover

Completely Unrelated Post:
Just had a thought. If anyone is planning on drive/ferry to the sale game - they should consider contacting their insurance company asap and getting an insurance green card for driving in an non EU country..... just in case the Brexit **** storm really does fall on it's arse next week and a no deal exit happens.

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Team named

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1108699002143424512?s=21

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Treviso team, no Italy starters from last weekend are involved.

https://twitter.com/benettonrugby/status/1108700029454184448?s=21

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Serious Connacht team and very strong bench.
Have to fancy the win (even a bp)
I would expect us to beat the 8pt hcap the bookies have out.

FACECUTTR

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Serious Connacht team and very strong bench.
Have to fancy the win (even a bp)
I would expect us to beat the 8pt hcap the bookies have out.

I'd be happy with a 1pt win no bp.
Tough game.
I think we will get a much better view of where Godwin is at outhalf up against a decent team.

thomond2006

Some Like It TOH

Fascinating game. Benetton tore it up over the Six Nations without their internationals.

connachta

I think they'll miss them hardly against such a Connacht team and away

Dubinusa

Some Like It TOH

Very strong Connacht side. Great to see Robb back!

evil_seed

The Friend Zone

Dubinusa wrote: »

Very strong Connacht side. Great to see Robb back!

Ehm, he played against the Ospreys.

I think it will be a tough game. I expect a win but it'll be tight

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

FACECUTTR wrote: »

I'd be happy with a 1pt win no bp.
Tough game.
I think we will get a much better view of where Godwin is at outhalf up against a decent team.

What I would be happy with and what I expect, in general, rarely coincide.

macslash

Mul, it's over

Cardiff have bonus point before half time

freyners

The Friend Zone

Carty now our all time leading scorer

What a season he's having

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

Carty isn’t far off joining Joe Canning and Joe Connolly as godlike JCs of the West. Wouldn’t swap him for any 10 in the country at the moment.

Blade didn’t look too pleased coming off, understandably because he was excellent. Great to have two 9s of such quality. If we could find a backup 10 it would help, Godwin is a very good player, been a great addition but don’t think he’s a 10.

Butler and Tom Farrell impressive as always too. Dillane really coming back to his best too.

freyners

The Friend Zone

I hope we are looking at Stephen Fitzgerald as a permanent signing. He was excellent

Mckeon has been a highlight since he came back from injury

nice_guy80

ClanofLams wrote: »

Carty isn’t far off joining Joe Canning and Joe Connolly as godlike JCs of the West. Wouldn’t swap him for any 10 in the country at the moment.

Blade didn’t look too pleased coming off, understandably because he was excellent. Great to have two 9s of such quality. If we could find a backup 10 it would help, Godwin is a very good player, been a great addition but don’t think he’s a 10.

Butler and Tom Farrell impressive as always too. Dillane really coming back to his best too.

Except he's a Roscommon man

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

nice_guy80 wrote: »

Except he's a Roscommon man

I know, that was why I qualified it by saying the West. Up the Rossies - until the Connacht football final of course, if they beat Mayo

MayoForSam

Mul, it's over

Jack made the difference when he came on. Penalty from half way that he nailed was the turning point. Cardiff game will be like a cup final, can't wait.

Diabhal Beag

I've consulted with prominent Nobel-winning scienticians and they have confirmed this kick was never on and are reconsidering what physics is.

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1109207386366099457

connachta

A proof of concept for "unseen work"
Buckley wasn't perfect, at scrumtime etc. But he made 20 ****ing tackles within barely an hour!!
Butler isn't powerful as n°8, but he has reached the same tackling figure, some Captain!

Cosmo Kramer

Cardiff threw their internationals straight back in tonight against the Scarlets and picked up a few injuries.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

Connacht 52| Ospreys 44| Cardiff 52
Zebre (A)5| Cheetahs (A)1|Munster (A)0
Cardiff (H)4| Kings (A)5|Connacht (A)1
Munster (A)0| Cardiff (A)1|Ospreys (H)4


Connacht 61
Cardiff 57
Ospreys 51

Win away to Zebre and a cup final in the Sportsground!
It's going to be a great afternoon on the 13th.

Will Navidi be back for that date?

Hopefully the Sale game isn't attritional :eek:

I'm getting a bit wary of the 0 points I have given Cardiff against Munster.
They seem to be in great form at the moment but surely a win is out of the question.
That's enough fate tempting for one post

ClanofLams

Mul, it's over

"MarinersBlues wrote: »

Win away to Zebre and a cup final in the Sportsground!
It's going to be a great afternoon on the 13th.

Will Navidi be back for that date?

Hopefully the Sale game isn't attritional :eek:

I'm getting a bit wary of the 0 points I have given Cardiff against Munster.
They seem to be in great form at the moment but surely a win is out of the question.
That's enough fate tempting for one post

Yeah would be concerned Cardiff could get a result against Munster too, will depend on what side they put out I guess. Be very happy if they got a losing bonus point, beating Zebre and Cardiff would do then obviously.

Friend said on tg4 last night there would be changes v Sale so guess the likes of Butler, TOH, Bealham, Buckley who have a lot played might get rested.

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

ClanofLams wrote: »

Yeah would be concerned Cardiff could get a result against Munster too, will depend on what side they put out I guess. Be very happy if they got a losing bonus point, beating Zebre and Cardiff would do then obviously.

Friend said on tg4 last night there would be changes v Sale so guess the likes of Butler, TOH, Bealham, Buckley who have a lot played might get rested.

I'm happy enough to hear that.
The league should defo be priority now

macslash

Mul, it's over

Looking at Zebre there against Munster. Very impressive. Won't be easy over there.

Having said that if they did manage to win against Munster here it might make Munster go all out against Cardiff!

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

macslash wrote: »

Looking at Zebre there against Munster. Very impressive. Won't be easy over there.

Having said that if they did manage to win against Munster here it might make Munster go all out against Cardiff!

A zebra won could also drag Munster into a fight for top three in the conference

connachta

For once I think we could play Challenge Cup and Pro14
Our squad is in the best health shape I've ever seen
No-one is injured in the main squad except SOB
plus we have 3 games to play, then rest vs Munster before Play-off or Euro Play-off (hope we won't have to rely on any point in Thomond, even if it's not impossible to get one vs a Munster team focused on its own final phases)

So Carty Roux Marmion and so on were rested this week-end and should play 3 games. Even Bundee
I'd rest only the players overused, beyond 1000 minutes this season. Even Bealham and Godwin aren't in this category. Buckley, Dillane, Farrell, Butler, Fainga'a, Full-blank
+ Lots of players coming back from injury would have extra motivation to shine vs Sale as an opportunity to get back in the main squad/get a new contract

Which leaves us in Manscheter with a really competitive team

1) McCabe
2) Heff
3) Bealham
4) Roux
5) Thornbury
6) McKeon
7) Masterson
8,) Boyle
9) Marmion
10) Carty
12) Aki
13) Godwin
11) Healy
14) Fitzgerald
15) Leader

16) McCartney
17) O'Donnell
18) Carey/McCoy
19) Macksymiw
20) Connolly/Copeland
21) Blade
22) C.Fitz/Horwitz
23) Niyi