Leinster v Connacht, Saturday. kick-off 7.35pm, eir Sport

molloyjh · 02-01-2021 10:30PM

We were a mess of a team in the backline for most of the game. Can't really be too surprised. If the Hawkshaw try had stood then it was game on, but it was the right decision in the end.

Glad we got the TBP. That could be important.

Good to see Tommy Bowe refusing to acknowledge that Leinsters back line was a mess. Feck sake Tommy....

The Lost Sheep · 02-01-2021 10:31PM

sydthebeat wrote: »

Yeah, I made a fortune on the game.

Had connacht +26

Had penny anytime @17/10 and took that to back baird at half time to score a try @13/2 and backed connacht +6 with about 15 mins to go.

So did i. Had Connacht +22 but Ulster, Edinburgh and Zebre as well.

leakyboots wrote: »

It's such a shame that Conor Oliver is too small

Yeah. far too small. no good.

MayoForSam · 02-01-2021 10:31PM

connachta wrote: »

19 years to wait for this moment, lads:pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

At least it won't be 70

Blanco100 · 02-01-2021 10:32PM

What's the general consensus on Jack Carty as a player?

molloyjh · 02-01-2021 10:32PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Connacht won the game in opening 20 mins, before injuries kicked in.

Carty's first 20 mins was pretty much flawless (other than a missed conversion) and Connacht's midfield defensive pressure completely shook Leinster up.

The injuries meant that we couldn't come back. Although we had a good purple patch in the 3rd quarter. If we'd someone like a Ross Byrne or Harry Byrne out there we could well have won it.

Bazzo · 02-01-2021 10:33PM

Buer wrote: »

Should really be a Connacht forward. Carty will get it because Toland.

Pack were huge but don't think you could deny it to Carty. Bossed the opening 20 where the match was on(and Sexton was on the pitch) imo.

Clegg · 02-01-2021 10:35PM

Blanco100 wrote: »

What's the general consensus on Jack Carty as a player?

Good player that can produce moments of magic. But European level is probably his ceiling. Don't think he's up to test level. Similar to Ross Byrne in that respect.

Wegians89 · 02-01-2021 10:37PM

Blanco100 wrote: »

What's the general consensus on Jack Carty as a player?

Given the freedom to do his thing, he’s a joy to watch. I’d also like for the place kicking responsibilities to be given to someone else, in top level matches. He can make something out of nothing with ball in hand, fearless defender and brilliant with the boot from hand.

thomond2006 · 02-01-2021 10:38PM

Attaboy Quinn. I'm sure it means so much to him.

MarinersBlues · 02-01-2021 10:38PM

Jaysus, D'Arcy cannot give Connacht any credit.

Talks about Leinsters woes in the backline.
Apart from O/H and full back the rest of the Connacht backline were 2nd or 3rd choice.

Says Connacht have been poor for the last 4 or 5 games - we were a bounce of the ball away from beating Racing in Paris.

OldRio · 02-01-2021 10:38PM

Haha a whoops moment on TV. Love it

lawrencesummers · 02-01-2021 10:41PM

Clegg wrote: »

Good player that can produce moments of magic. But European level is probably his ceiling. Don't think he's up to test level. Similar to Ross Byrne in that respect.

Very harsh to say Europe is his ceiling when he will always be on the back foot against European packs.

He has the skill necessary, and the temperament, but I question his strength / size.

arsebiscuits1 · 02-01-2021 10:43PM

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Jaysus, D'Arcy cannot give Connacht any credit.

Talks about Leinsters woes in the backline.
Apart from O/H and full back the rest of the Connacht backline were 2nd or 3rd choice.

Says Connacht have been poor for the last 4 or 5 games - we were a bounce of the ball away from beating Racing in Paris.

That's stretching it a bit...

Blade has been consistently picked over Marmion recently.

Arnold would be first choice 12 or 13 when Bundee is around also.

Akrasia · 02-01-2021 10:44PM

Connacht are a 8 points behind Munster now having both played 8 games each.

The match next week is huge now

(and rightly so)

lawrencesummers · 02-01-2021 10:45PM

Roux and Dillane are the best second row in the country.

ersatz · 02-01-2021 10:46PM

MarinersBlues wrote: »

Apart from O/H and full back the rest of the Connacht backline were 2nd or 3rd choice.

Yeah, both teams with less than ideal selections. But this is a great result for Connacht and a good result for Leinster. Losing to someone was in the post and the idea that only the best teams in Europe were the ones to worry about inevitably results in complacency and inertia, and after a run like they've had complacency is unavoidable even with the competition within the Leinster squad.

Agree with the earlier observation about Sexton too, he seems incapable of finishing a game, even if he only plays every few months. Plus Carty had the measure of him tonight.

siltirocker · 02-01-2021 10:46PM

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

That's stretching it a bit...

Blade has been consistently picked over Marmion recently.

Arnold would be first choice 12 or 13 when Bundee is around also.

I'd have to disagree. When both are fit and Marmion hasn't been floating around Ireland, Marmion more often than not gets the nod.

Farrell and Aki is 100% the starting centre partnership when available also.

Wegians89 · 02-01-2021 10:47PM

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Roux and Dillane are the best second row in the country.

Thornbury might have something to say about that

Kraftwerk · 02-01-2021 10:48PM

Can't win em all. Connacht came out of the gate hungry and stuck it out. Great performance from them. Leinster were fairly poor but the squad was a mess.

Clegg · 02-01-2021 10:52PM

Benefit of hindsight and all that, but we looked much better with Hawkshaw at 10. Jimmy O'Brien is a very talented footballer but looked very uncomfortable subbing in for Sexton. Keep him at 13/15.

Dave_The_Sheep · 02-01-2021 10:54PM

Well, can't argue with that. Fair play, Connacht - an immense performance. Heads could have dropped in the third quarter, but getting that last try to keep Leinster down was impressive. Pack was on the front foot for most of the game, Carty was excellent throughout. Great performances across the park.

As for Leinster, that was ... a game. O'Reilly was at sea in the first half, Carty picking him apart it seemed at will with his kicks. Bad decision making from a lot of the (yes, I know, young) backline far too often - it's OK to just boot the ball up the pitch at times lads. Sexton going off (and failing the HIA) was obviously far from ideal, but you knew it was going to happen given how he has been lately. Quite a few other injuries as well - you'd wonder what kind of squad we'll be able to put out against Ulster who appear in very good form. It's basically the semi final, so I can well see an Ulster Munster final this year.

Paul Smeenus · 02-01-2021 10:54PM

Wegians89 wrote: »

Thornbury might have something to say about that

As might last week's Ulster second row.

lawrencesummers · 02-01-2021 10:57PM

Wegians89 wrote: »

Thornbury might have something to say about that

He can say what he wants, and so can James Ryan, but Roux - Dillane are the best pair.

CowboyTed · 02-01-2021 11:02PM

arsebiscuits1 wrote: »

That's stretching it a bit...

Blade has been consistently picked over Marmion recently.

Arnold would be first choice 12 or 13 when Bundee is around also.

Marmion and Blade share the the position. Marmion might shade it in big games, but mainly because Blade is great off the bench.

Arnold to me is forth in order... Bundee, Farrell, Daly & Arnold in that order before tonight... Saying that Daly has been very impressive this season.
Arnold was great tonight, well done to him... He showed massive physical commitment.
They are four very good centers and we are luicky to have them.

CowboyTed · 02-01-2021 11:07PM

Blanco100 wrote: »

What's the general consensus on Jack Carty as a player?

Better than Ross Byrne...

In all fairness for the Georgia Game we should have played
Cooney and Burns one half
Marmion and Carty in the next...

Carty needs a fast scrum half... Just like Marmion likes to speed up a game until the cracks show and the opposition bends...

Note: Marmion has only started 7 games for Ireland. In those has beat England, New Zealand and Walse when the were World No.1... that is some record...

arsebiscuits1 · 02-01-2021 11:10PM

Clegg wrote: »

Benefit of hindsight and all that, but we looked much better with Hawkshaw at 10. Jimmy O'Brien is a very talented footballer but looked very uncomfortable subbing in for Sexton. Keep him at 13/15.

It doesn't seem like Hawkshaw is rated as a 10 by Leinster at all at the moment. Certainly not enough to get the nod for bigger games.

He was poor against Munster A at 10.

It was always going to be a big ask for Jimmy at 10 yeah and he didn't step up as they'd have hoped

Larbre34 · 02-01-2021 11:18PM

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Roux and Dillane are the best second row in the country.

Calm down.

HBC08 · 02-01-2021 11:34PM

Larbre34 wrote: »

Calm down.

Not that id disagree with you on the above but you've hardly been on the ball in this thread.
Going by your comments I wouldn't think you're doing dry January this year!

ElisaAtWar · 02-01-2021 11:35PM

Enjoyed that. Having Quinn and Gavin is huge. And Daly and Arnold were immense. The two combinations that seem to make Connacht tick

Wegians89 · 02-01-2021 11:39PM

ElisaAtWar wrote: »

Enjoyed that. Having Quinn and Gavin is huge. And Daly and Arnold were immense. The two combinations that seem to make Connacht tick

Blade and Carty too

Leinster v Connacht, Saturday. kick-off 7.35pm, eir Sport

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