Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

ElisaAtWar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123859640#Comment_123859640

Why rest players unless there is a medical reason players need to be rested. We are only one game into the season. Connacht is not world beaters. The game last weekend was decent. But we need to build on it not mess with it

testtech05

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123868091#Comment_123868091

Lancaster has stated everyone will be getting game time over the first batch of fixtures so I would expect changes

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123868330#Comment_123868330

Sounds like he wants to look at everybody to build a depth chart the right way.

2025Connacht

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123868091#Comment_123868091

It's risky to make too many changes as games like the Scarlets game are must win games but having a look at players and showing everyone that they will get an opportunity is positive in building confidence and harmony within the squad too. In some areas our options are limited but in others there isn't a huge gap in quality between first and second choice. There was players last week who came in and did well when backed.

There might be short term pain in some instances but overall building a squad should serve us well.

Given the nature of injuries and wear and tear over the course of a season creating the next man up mentality that we haven't had in a long time is a good thing.

ElisaAtWar

Rotation has been the mainstay of Leinster as they have to deal with international players welfare more than anybody. The next reason for rotation is injuries. This is why we have extended squads. But the (just picking a number) 45 members of any individual squad is very different. For Leinster to maintain any interest in any competition means it's squad has to be of more quality

mjp

Article here seems to show Scarlets down a huge number of players due to injuries and their squad is quite small this year apparently which hopefully bodes well for us.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/ced540q07p0o

Weather forecast not looking great for Saturday so it will be like testing for both sides. Team news tomorrow will tell a lot. Costello at out half is a big loss for them as he makes them tick

KBurke85

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY SQUAD VS SCARLETS RUGBY
Saturday 4th October, 1.45pm @ Dexcom Stadium

Number/Name/Caps

15. Sean Naughton (2)
14. Chay Mullins (9)
13. David Hawkshaw (44)
12. Cathal Forde (52)
11. Shayne Bolton (27)
10. Jack Carty (221)
9. Ben Murphy (17)
1. Denis Buckley (265)
2. Dave Heffernan (220)
3. Jack Aungier (88)
4. Darragh Murray (39)
5. Joe Joyce (38)
6. Cian Prendergast (88) (C)
7. Paul Boyle (117)
8. Sean Jansen (27)

16. Eoin de Buitléar (14)
17. Jordan Duggan (63)
18. Sam Illo (32)
19. David O’Connor (9)
20. Sean O'Brien (13)
21. Matthew Devine (19)
22. Hugh Gavin (10)
23. Finn Treacy (8)

realhorrorshow

Scarlets team to face Connacht at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday, October 4 (1.45pm)

15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams (capt), 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Harry Thomas, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Max Douglas, 5 Jake Ball, 6 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Taine Plumtree.

Reps: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Tristan Davies, 20 Osian Williams, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Ioan Nicholas, 23 Macs Page.

Zeugnis

Looking forward to this, slight concern about the line out in the absence of Niall and Josh Murphy. Will be interesting to see how Eoin de Buitléar gets on.

realhorrorshow

Scarlets have some decent outside backs but given how far down their depth chart they've had to go up front, and the fact that Hawkins has never started a pro game at 10, we should really be depriving them of any platform to work with. Taine Plumtree is a good player but we should be able to target him, as I don't see many other viable carriers in their pack.

Interested to see how David Hawkshaw gets on, he's a good player who has possibly stagnated a bit. Coming into the season, I would have put Niall Murray and Byron Ralston in the same boat, and thought that both had a good outing last week, so hopefully Hawkshaw can do similar.

MayoForSam

Match postponed. Handy for Scarlets with all their injuries.

testtech05

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123875795#Comment_123875795

From the article I read on the42 it seemed like ther was no option but to postpone unfortunately.

It's a shame for us though. It would have been a good chance to get another win on the board early.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876084#Comment_123876084

If it's rescheduled after January we'll benefit financially from the increased capacity in the Sportsground. Provided fan enthusiasm levels are high, of course ;)

2025Connacht

I guess safety comes first but when Munster v Cardiff can go ahead it seems a bit shambolic that this one can't. I'm guessing there wasn't wiggle room with TV schedules to change the kick off time.

It's one we have to win regardless of when it's played but it'd have been nice to get another win on the board and build some momentum but what can you do.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876282#Comment_123876282

I don't think the storm was the main reason it's not going ahead. There was a multitude of issues regarding the flight. One arrested and two people in hospital. Needed to change the flight crew as well.

OldRio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876282#Comment_123876282

'Shambolic'??????

2025Connacht

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876315#Comment_123876315

If there was a will for the game to be played it would have been played. Don't get what all the question marks are about

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876344#Comment_123876344

It was travel reasons that got the game cancelled. They tried numerous methods to get here. So clearly there was a desire to get it played but better to be safe and leave it to a later date.

OldRio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876344#Comment_123876344

The question marks are about how could anyone decide something is shambolic because the Munster game gets played and Connacht is cancelled. When they know nothing about the facts.

AccidentallyOnside

The reason out game was cancelled rather than delayed was delaying a day would have meant a 5 day turnaround for scarlet playing stormers next week.

Lancey Howard

Marmion has just scored Try of the Season for Bristol

ShineyShiney

The postponement last weekend was far from ideal and really puts some pressure on the group now to back up their excellent opening day win. Also impacts Lancaster's plans for rotation i'm sure. A very different prospect of taking the performances over the two home games and rewarding players form when selecting the first away squad than trying to keep the commitment of giving guys a run.

With that in mind I think i'd go with something like this for the weekend.

Buckley Heffernan Aungier DMurray Joyce Prendergast SHL Jansen Murphy Ioane Tracey forde Hawkshaw Bolton Naughton

Dooley DTM Illo Murphy Boyle Devine Ralston Mack

Whoever is selected, best of luck, hopefully a first away win of the Lancaster Era.

FACECUTTR

Lancaster mentioned on the squad update Bundee Mack and Finlay were raring to go so I could see the 3 of them benching. I think it would be a bit unfair to drop lads that we're named to play last week but games like this will matter and we need to take 4 points on the road.

CowboyTed

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123876544#Comment_123876544

There was travel problems and it wasn't all down to the weather… Things happen…

Connacht might be very thankful if this is moved to the 6 Nations window… They will have their new stand ready and this could be great game in that period…

Connacht v Scarlets could be a great on a Saturday Evening/Night 7th Feb after the England Wales Game… Ireland are playing on the Thursday (opening game) because Winter Olympic Open ceremony. The only games on that day are Scotland v Italy and England v Wales (both don't look that competitive)… Connacht will be the best game of the weekend, Book it in now… Tell Ulster to play Friday…

Mr Hinx

Think the fact this is away, we will see a different (stronger) squad named. Cardiff has never been easy for us.

Wouldn’t be surprised either way tbh.

OldRio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123888642#Comment_123888642

'There was a travel problem' I do know that. The original poster did not. That was the point I was making

b.gud

I just noticed on Twitter that the IRFU posted their schedule for the match against New Zealand in Chicago and the squad will be traveling over on the 21st of October which means that Minster and Connacht will both be without their internationals for the match in Thomand on the 25th which is disappointing

sydthebeat

Gilbert scores for Otago and at this stage (winning 38-22) they will most likely make at least the semi finals next weekend.

Could be mid November before Gilbert appears for connacht, but ye have a gem of a player coming in.

sydthebeat

And he's just hit a drop goal to push them out to 14 points up 🤣

sydthebeat

And Otago needed that drop goal as they won 44-41