Zzippy wrote: » Feels like one where Connacht could build an early lead only to have their hopes dashed again when Leinster empty the bench.
irishbucsfan wrote: » Connacht will not take the lead at any point in the entire match
Buer wrote: » I don't see it happening to be honest. Connacht might hit the front. They're going to throw the kitchen sink, I'm sure. But there looks to be such a gap in the numbers from 6-10 on either side that I just don't see Connacht ever really building a lead.
thomond2006 wrote: » Ah IBF, that hot take aged like milk. *bookmarked*
irishbucsfan wrote: » I was nearly right, actually. They only took the lead once
irishbucsfan wrote: Connacht will not not take the lead at any point in the entire match
mfceiling wrote: » So Ulster beat Connacht last week and Munster this evening and Connacht beat Leinster tonight. So the logical conclusion is that Ulster are the bestest, greatest, most brilliant number one team in Ireland. No comebacks...can't argue with facts.
Five Eighth wrote: » Good luck to Connacht and Ulster but...does anyone have any concerns about Munster and Leinster fielding such understrength teams for derby matches in their top league? Max O’Reilly; Andrew Smith, Jimmy O’Brien, Rory O’Loughlin, Dave Kearney; Johnny Sexton, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Michael Bent; Ross Molony, Devin Toner; Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, Dan Leavy. A Leinster full-strength team would have Sexton and (a fit) Leavy starting. Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Liam Coombes; Ben Healy, Craig Casey; Liam O’Connor, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Fineen Wycherley, Billy Holland (c); Jack O’Donoghue, Chris Cloete, Jack O’Sullivan. A Munster full-strength team might have...maybe a fit Niall Scannell starting. Are the above team selections respectful to the league and to supporters?
Paul Smeenus wrote: » I think Leinster are way out in front, and mentioning Munster in the same breath as them is nonsense. Munster have no concerns, as there's no-one near them in their conference. That is an issue. I'm glad Connacht won, but you're literally asking did the two teams that lost tonight disrespect the league. Well if they did, their prizes were losses.
Five Eighth wrote: » Slightly confused. You state that "Leinster are way out in front...and...Munster have no concerns as there's no one near them in their conference." Also, '...mentioning Munster in the same breath is nonsense." Please clarify. It's not so much that both teams lost but that they went into derby matches with, to all intents and purposes, sides that were below even second string strength.
Paul Smeenus wrote: » No problem. Leinster are, by a distance, miles better than anyone else in the league. I think that's aggravatingly self-evident. You might think Munster are close - I don't. Having said that, Munster don't have anyone of the quality of Ulster in their conference. If they did, they wouldn't be so comfortable. They might not be in first place. But they don't. So they don't have a great deal of concern about coming top. Ulster would be very comfortably top of that conference - it's not a huge achievement. Given some of Connacht's results. I think they're a better team than they've shown, but their results are their results. The teams can go into inter-pro derbys and field whatever teams they want. At the end of the day, if no-one can beat them, that's fine. But both teams fielded understrength teams that lost. I don't see how that's disrespectful. A mistake maybe. But not disrespectful.
Paul Smeenus wrote: » NB - I don't mean Ulster would be top ahead of Munster, I meant instead of Munster. Although there's every chance we could be ahead if we were in the same conference. But that's absolutely not guaranteed.
Zzippy wrote: » Wrong thread Paul. This is the thread to celebrate Connacht's magnificent victory over the Empire
thegreycity wrote: » People keep referring to Leinster as “the Empire”. I presume this is the Roman Empire; a shining beacon of civilisation and unrivalled power in a dark world of jealous barbarians.
ElisaAtWar wrote: » It is a game to celebrate. It's been a while since we had our first choice second row, and maybe our best centre partnership. And with Jack on top form it was convincing. So let's hope they can pay it forward