Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Lads whats the story with Carty? Is it Covid related?

Not in the squad v Ospreys and not even a mention of him in the press this morning either.

There weren't any positive PCR tests before the Ospreys game. He was likely just rested.

Bazzo wrote: »

From an unbelievably selfish provincial point of view having Blade, Marmion and Carty all available puts us in a much stronger position for the next 6 weeks. Missing both Roux and Dillane will weaken us significantly, especially with our set piece and offensive breakdown problems.

While I agree with this point about having the lads for our games (hopefully we might have 1 of Roux/Dillane sometimes too), you would wonder what some players have to do in order to be involved while others cant seem to be dropped no matter what.

It's getting to the point where I would start to worry about our chances of retaining some of the lads if they see no chance of progressing internationally it would be hard to begrudge them looking out for themselves financially.

It probably sounds like provincial bias to highlight our guys but there are players in the other provinces being treated similarly, John Cooney the obvious one who comes to mind....

It needs more highlighting from the media. I remember that scene yesterday and seeing Andy in the stand looking down and I just felt he must know full well they're dammed either way out there. Murphy is an odd ref. Totally inconsistent.

Number 137 wrote: »

I always find it interesting when certain individuals decide to constantly castigate a referee. It's usually very generic, nothing specific, in terms of what the referee's actual issues are. I'd be curious to know what your particular bug bears are, instead of hiding behind cliched buzz terms. I fully accept that watching games can be frustrating when decisions don't go our way. But let's be honest, Connacht don't lose games because referee A or B is refereeing. They lose games because of their own short comings.

Is that aimed at me or who?

Bazzo wrote: »

Buernard Jackman weighing in on some of the scrum reffing from yesterday.

Ignoring your hurtful and scurrilous wordplay, I've watched that clip about a dozen times now and I'm ok with the decision. Obviously, in a scrum there's normally about a half dozen issues that could be penalised but, based on Murphy's call there, the Connacht pack does appear to be shifting across and coming around to the open side. Were there other factors or infringements? Quite possibly but I can't disagree with the specific call.

It's something I've seen plenty of teams do and be rewarded as a dominant scrum. They shift all of their weight off to one side where they think they'll get the most reward instead of driving straight. In that clip, I don't think Connacht were very subtle at all about it, to be honest.

Buer wrote: »

Ignoring your hurtful and scurrilous wordplay, I've watched that clip about a dozen times now and I'm ok with the decision. Obviously, in a scrum there's normally about a half dozen issues that could be penalised but, based on Murphy's call there, the Connacht pack does appear to be shifting across and coming around to the open side. Were there other factors or infringements? Quite possibly but I can't disagree with the specific call.

It's something I've seen plenty of teams do and be rewarded as a dominant scrum. They shift all of their weight off to one side where they think they'll get the most reward instead of driving straight. In that clip, I don't think Connacht were very subtle at all about it, to be honest.

I'm pretty clueless about scrummaging, just thought some bits of the thread were interesting. He wasn't impressed with how Murphy dealt with Butler after.

Edit: I think the arguement Buerch and Butler were making was that Connacht were side stepping because Spreys where wheeling the far side. The fact they went for the corner rather than another scrum straight after was curious

I didn't see the game so only working off the footage in that clip. I understand Murphys decision, but I also understand what Butler was saying afterwards. Would really need to see from the other side exactly what is happening before I could really make a call on it. It honestly could be either or, but it could also be both. As Buer said, there are often so many infringements from either side in a scrum that a clear definitively correct outcome isnt always possible. You'd have to have some sympathy for officials in that case too as it becomes effectively an impossible job to referee is properly.

I had no problem with the decision at the time. We brought on two young props and struggled a bit afterwards. Scrums got messy and from Frank’s POV he had enough at that stage.

I think one of the infringements was a free kick which would mean they wouldn’t get the throw in if they kicked it. Their maul was a serious weapon so that’s why they went for the lineout.

Birch has gone from coaching at T14 to Pro14 to J1A so he probably genuinely doesn’t know what’s going on and is looking for help !

Without making any comment on Murphy’s standard of reffing and certainly not in any way blaming him for loss, it’s ridiculous that he is reffing Connacht anyway, makes the league look tin pot and needs to stop if league is going to work.

Imagine Murphy reffing Connacht v Stormers in tight game and marginal decision given to Connacht that effectively decides game. South African media would think it is absolutely ridiculous. And they would be right.

ClanofLams wrote: »

Without making any comment on Murphy’s standard of reffing and certainly not in any way blaming him for loss, it’s ridiculous that he is reffing Connacht anyway, makes the league look tin pot and needs to stop if league is going to work.

Imagine Murphy reffing Connacht v Stormers in tight game and marginal decision given to Connacht that effectively decides game. South African media would think it is absolutely ridiculous. And they would be right.

Questions need to be asked about what Scotland is doing in ref development. Aside from Mike Adamson, I can't remember seeing any SRU affiliated ref in the Pro14 for years.

As for right now, it would be irresponsible to fly over referees from overseas.

Former Former Former wrote: »

Very unfair to be blaming Frank Murphy lads. He didn't cost ye the game

The OP literally said he is not to blame for the loss, see below

ClanofLams wrote: »

Without making any comment on Murphy’s standard of reffing and certainly not in any way blaming him for loss, it’s ridiculous that he is reffing Connacht anyway, makes the league look tin pot and needs to stop if league is going to work.

Imagine Murphy reffing Connacht v Stormers in tight game and marginal decision given to Connacht that effectively decides game. South African media would think it is absolutely ridiculous. And they would be right.

Festive Life wrote: »

There is one or two. Ben Balin. Sam Grove White.
And yeah totally irresponsible to fly over refs needlessly from abroad right now

He is a Munster, MAR, ref. But all pro refs in Ireland are from Munster apart from Sean Gallagher. And of the development group behind them. of the 4 members 2 are from Munster.
With numbers of refs limited i dont think they could be able to stop guys reffing the side where theyre from or who they played for.

They need to get a couple of more refs in so. This genuinely wouldn't happen in amateur sport or any other professional league. It makes the league look very small time and I am someone who normally defends it. They need to do it quickly and at a minimum, Murphy shouldn't be reffing Connacht when at all avoidable, as it has been frequently in the past.

Former Former Former wrote: »

Very unfair to be blaming Frank Murphy lads. He didn't cost ye the game

Literally nobody is.