Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

connachta wrote: »

For once I'm ok with Wootton, made two good tackles which is nearly a 1st for my sight...
He can be a complete winger!

P.Sulivan outpaced most of the game though. Really slow pace. Can't see him re-signed losing 3 meters on a Trevisio winger in a short run twice or thrice...

Wooten was absolutely terrible. He was probably the biggest reason Connacht didn't click tonight. He just kicked every ball to the opposition. And of course he looked defensively rubbish as normal.

And you had no issue with Wooten. Jeepers

Again we're above 10% of missed tackles

but we have Dowling/Boyle/Butler saving our ass doing more than 10 missing none! Each!

Not a mention this morning on RTE radio sport of Connachts win over Bennaton now if it was Leinster shameful carry on, well done great win

sydthebeat wrote: »

Great win???

Jeez did you see the game? A fully loaded connacht limped over the line against Treviso seconds.

Really not much to write home about.

Take the four and move on

Buckley
Heff
Roux
Dillane
SOB
Carty
Farrell
Arnold
Porch


Would be Connacht firsts




Many of these picked yesterday were not far at all, I'm not saying it was a "A" team, but clearly not our main XV. Only our back-row was used to play together, I understand disruption and conservativeness in our style yesterday. Treviso weren't totally poor either.
Good 4 points. No more but no less

connachta wrote: »

Buckley
Heff
Roux
Dillane
SOB
Carty
Farrell
Arnold
Porch


Would be Connacht firsts




Many of these picked yesterday were not far at all, I'm not saying it was a "A" team, but clearly not our main XV. Only our back-row was used to play together, I understand disruption and conservativeness in our style yesterday. Treviso weren't totally poor either.
Good 4 points. No more but no less

Treviso were pretty good, scrums, lineout, defence all solid, just a bit blunt in attack, they should have put us away. Last night's team would be closer to my first choice than yours, only roux, carty, Farrell and porch missing for me.

sydthebeat wrote: »

Every team has injuries.

"Fully loaded" means as strong as possible. Connachts 23 yesterday was as strong as possible bar dillane and heffernan.
Coming out of Treviso with a last minute win against a team who are now zero for twelve is nothing to be happy about.

Connacht have some serious issues which need addressing

We were crap last night but we won our fifth straight away from home.

Issues are not as serious as you’re making them out. Work to do on defence but tear the playbook up, no.

Zzippy wrote: »

There was no playbook last night bar kick for territory. In the first half we were throwing it around, trying offloads that weren't on, without doing the hard work first to create the space needed to do that. The second half we just kicked back to them over and over. Treviso played all the rugby in that half. Bar the first and last 2 minutes of the half I don't think I've ever been as bored watching Connacht.

Yeah you’d wonder how not having Andy Friend there affected them.

Treviso kept pinning us back and we were scared of our lives to lose the ball and concede a penalty. That’s where Jack would have brought some assurance. I nearly thought we’d be better to concede a score earlier to try get some territory as it was just line outs down the right side of the pitch from 60 to 75 minutes. When Treviso did carry, we were afraid to poach and give away a penalty.

Treviso suffocated us with a simple plan during that period and deserve credit as we were uncomfortable. That needs work.

The Boyle knock on 5m out was a killer for momentum. Probably get out with a bonus point if we score there. Then the turnover penalty on their 10m, we went into our shells.

its_phil wrote: »

Yeah you’d wonder how not having Andy Friend there affected them.

Treviso kept pinning us back and we were scared of our lives to lose the ball and concede a penalty. That’s where Jack would have brought some assurance. I nearly thought we’d be better to concede a score earlier to try get some territory as it was just line outs down the right side of the pitch from 60 to 75 minutes. When Treviso did carry, we were afraid to poach and give away a penalty.

Treviso suffocated us with a simple plan during that period and deserve credit as we were uncomfortable. That needs work.

The Boyle knock on 5m out was a killer for momentum. Probably get out with a bonus point if we score there. Then the turnover penalty on their 10m, we went into our shells.

Why wasn't friend there?

lenny4545 wrote: »

Why wasn't friend there?

Did his knee during the week according to Galway Bay FM

knock knock
who's there?
European Champions Cup qualified!!!


On a ponderation stance, we have to bear in mind we've beaten Leinster A, Treviso A, Cardiff A, Dragons, Zebre which matters but less meanignful than Munster, Ulster, Scarlets, Bristol, which were all defeats. Only Edinburgh and Racing were performances in which Connacht can calibrate a real good level.

To be clear I'm not saying at all we're poor, just we've no positive indication against the bigger teams, and Saffers will be key test to where our young squad is

lenny4545 wrote: »

Anyone have any idea when Connacht will announce contract renewals?

Judging by Alex wooten's comments I'd be surprised if a lot are not done or in the process of getting done already but probably will be announced in 2/3s over the course of a week

theVersatile wrote: »

https://www.pro14.rugby/statistics/players

Was having a look here and found that Denis Buckley has given away the most penalties in the Pro14 this season (16). Probably a by-product of being a prop and playing in the majority of games, but is he generally considered an undisciplined player?

Not sure about previously but he has given away a lot of stupid penalties this season.

Munster A will also be facing Connacht A on Saturday at the Sportsground (12pm).

Wegians89 wrote: »

My team for Munster:

Buckley
Delahunt
Bealham
Dowling
Thornbury
Butler
Oliver
Boyle
Marmion
Carty
Wootton
Daly
Bundee
Porch
Toh

Heff
Duggan
Aungier
Dillane
Papalii
Blade
Fitz
Healy

Would like to reward delahunt and dowling a good form, would prefer Bundee at 13 but likely to see that swapped. Big impact from the bench in Dillane, heff and papalii

I'd give Boyle, Thornbury and Porch a proper rest, they need to be fit for CC round of 16 and Rainbow Cup


I'd say it's now or never to test (with a start vs big team) either SOB 2.0 or Jennings because one of them will be in the senior squad next year... And Daly (desperatly) needs a game off