Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Zzippy · 03-03-2021 01:55PM

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

Is McAllister injured? I'd have him on the bench if not.

realhorrorshow · 03-03-2021 01:57PM

Zzippy wrote: »

Is McAllister injured? I'd have him on the bench if not.

I wouldn't tbh, think Duggan has been better this season and obviously has a much higher ceiling.

Wegians89 · 03-03-2021 02:03PM

realhorrorshow wrote: »

I wouldn't tbh, think Duggan has been better this season and obviously has a much higher ceiling.

Agree with this, been very impressed with Duggan and aungier

Zeugnis · 03-03-2021 06:04PM

Duggan, Augier and Dowling have been great signings, full of promise. Dowling has had a very positive impact on the line out in the last two games, seems to make a nuisance of himself.

04-03-2021 01:12PM

Two strong teams named for tomorrow considering it's in between internationals. We really do have a serious pool of players in Ireland.

Munster look stronger but I probably prefer going into a game as underdogs we tend to perform better.

Zeugnis · 04-03-2021 01:20PM

Team named:

Buckley
Heff
Bealham
Dillane
Thornbury
Butler
Oliver
Boyle

Blade
Carty
Healy
Aki
Daly
Porch
Toh

Delahunt
Burke
Aungier
Murray
E. Masterson
Marmion
O'Brien
Wooton

Surprised Papalii isn't on the bench, didn't make the trip to Treviso either.

siltirocker · 04-03-2021 01:40PM

What are people's thoughts at SH? Are we maybe accepting that perhaps Blade is first choice now?

There was always a reason or * beside why he was ahead of Marmion for this game or that game. But those reasons seem to be thin now.

Personally I think Marmion is a better player. But Blade is a brilliant deputy, I wouldn't blink if he was in an Irish starting XV.

siltirocker · 04-03-2021 01:43PM

Also what's up with Ben O'Donnell?

Injured, or a damp squib like Deegan?

freyners · 04-03-2021 02:17PM

siltirocker wrote: »

Also what's up with Ben O'Donnell?

Injured, or a damp squib like Deegan?

Injured. Concussion

freyners · 04-03-2021 02:25PM

siltirocker wrote: »

What are people's thoughts at SH? Are we maybe accepting that perhaps Blade is first choice now?

There was always a reason or * beside why he was ahead of Marmion for this game or that game. But those reasons seem to be thin now.

Personally I think Marmion is a better player. But Blade is a brilliant deputy, I wouldn't blink if he was in an Irish starting XV.

Marmion for me also. Blade still for me has a small tendency to try to force breaks that are not on and the play slows down while he is at the bottom of the ruck that Marmion seems to have a better grasp on . Both have brilliant fundamentals in terms of passing (despite pundits like o'driscoll claiming otherwise), pace and ability to move the team. Both have the cardinal sin for irish selection of not being known for box kicking

Someone summed it up for me in a better and more beer fueled time in o'connell's. If Blade had the opportunity marmion had when he debuted in terms of being an immediate cut above the other options and got the same run of starting games he probably would have developed beyond marmion by then (this was 2 years ago). Now it's genuinely debatable. Fantastic position to be in with another very promising option in reilly coming through. Not really sure on kerins as I rarely see him

Bazzo · 04-03-2021 02:34PM

siltirocker wrote: »

What are people's thoughts at SH? Are we maybe accepting that perhaps Blade is first choice now?

There was always a reason or * beside why he was ahead of Marmion for this game or that game. But those reasons seem to be thin now.

Personally I think Marmion is a better player. But Blade is a brilliant deputy, I wouldn't blink if he was in an Irish starting XV.

Could be that neither is first choice and they'll just select based on the way they want to play that week. Marmion was one of the only ones who came out of the Benetton game with any credit.

ShineyShiney · 04-03-2021 02:48PM

Bazzo wrote: »

Could be that neither is first choice and they'll just select based on the way they want to play that week. Marmion was one of the only ones who came out of the Benetton game with any credit.

It's close between them, Marmian for me but only by a bit. Great to have them both competing and I expect Reilly to join the competition next season.

ElisaAtWar · 04-03-2021 07:32PM

While I appreciate Wooten would like to start his performances have been all over the shop. Teams have started to target his wing as the weak link in the chain. So I'm happy to see Matt starting.
Last week would not fill any Connacht supporter with confidence in a result tomorrow. And while Bundee got us out of Dodge last weekend his overall performances recently suggest he is not really focused on Connacht. He seems to be more focused on being dropped from the Irish squad which sees him becoming more an individual player trying to prove a point rather than a team player. And that is a problem for Connacht and another reason to worry about our performance tomorrow.
Denis, being a bit of a penalty of a penalty magnet, is not going to help either.
I'm lost on the Blade preferred over Marmion who I see as a faster distributor than Blade

And then for the positives. Well Heff will be able to hit Thornbury and brings more dynamism than Delahunt. Think our 9 and 10 are better than Munsters. Think Porch, TOH and Healy are stronger than Munster. Think our second row are better than Munsters.

So what will it come down to and who will win. I think Munster will bully us and the issues we have in the maul for some time now will be our Achilles heel. Would like to be proven wrong

ShineyShiney · 04-03-2021 08:31PM

ElisaAtWar wrote: »

While I appreciate Wooten would like to start his performances have been all over the shop. Teams have started to target his wing as the weak link in the chain. So I'm happy to see Matt starting.
Last week would not fill any Connacht supporter with confidence in a result tomorrow. And while Bundee got us out of Dodge last weekend his overall performances recently suggest he is not really focused on Connacht. He seems to be more focused on being dropped from the Irish squad which sees him becoming more an individual player trying to prove a point rather than a team player. And that is a problem for Connacht and another reason to worry about our performance tomorrow.
Denis, being a bit of a penalty of a penalty magnet, is not going to help either.
I'm lost on the Blade preferred over Marmion who I see as a faster distributor than Blade

And then for the positives. Well Heff will be able to hit Thornbury and brings more dynamism than Delahunt. Think our 9 and 10 are better than Munsters. Think Porch, TOH and Healy are stronger than Munster. Think our second row are better than Munsters.

So what will it come down to and who will win. I think Munster will bully us and the issues we have in the maul for some time now will be our Achilles heel. Would like to be proven wrong

I think you need some serious help with your anti Wooton issues. Every post, give yourself a break it's not rational !!!

ElisaAtWar · 04-03-2021 09:30PM

ShineyShiney wrote: »

I think you need some serious help with your anti Wooton issues. Every post, give yourself a break it's not rational !!!

I'm anti anyone who weakens the team overall. And Wooten deserves the criticism. His performances are from the sublime to the awful. And you can't trust who will turn up on the day.

I guess we will find out what Bundee Aki will turn up but that's his own issues. I would rather anybody other than Bundee at centre but we have no other options.

I don't critize for the sake of fun.

Wegians89 · 04-03-2021 09:50PM

ElisaAtWar wrote: »

I'm anti anyone who weakens the team overall. And Wooten deserves the criticism. His performances are from the sublime to the awful. And you can't trust who will turn up on the day.

I guess we will find out what Bundee Aki will turn up but that's his own issues. I would rather anybody other than Bundee at centre but we have no other options.

I don't critize for the sake of fun.

Pretty sure having the top try scorer in the competition in the team is more beneficial than leaving him out

Squidgy Black · 04-03-2021 10:16PM

Not really sure how you could possibly say Wooten weakens the team overall given his strike rate and the chances he's creating in attack.

A winger with lacklustre defence isn't exactly the be all and end all. Especially considering it's not like he's a barn door falling off tackles left right and centre letting players waltz through.

tobdom · 04-03-2021 10:18PM

I'm a Wooten fan overall, how could you not be with his attacking prowess, and I was very surprised to see him on the bench.... However, I don't think there's anything wrong with him being benched. Obviously there's some reasoning to it, and he could be a bit of a 'wounded animal' coming off the bench, especially against Munster.

I'm not so sure that I'm happy to see Porch moved from full back though, I do think that TOH is unfortunately past his best (and I'd be a big fan of his)

ShineyShiney · 04-03-2021 10:31PM

ElisaAtWar wrote: »

I'm anti anyone who weakens the team overall. And Wooten deserves the criticism. His performances are from the sublime to the awful. And you can't trust who will turn up on the day.

I guess we will find out what Bundee Aki will turn up but that's his own issues. I would rather anybody other than Bundee at centre but we have no other options.

I don't critize for the sake of fun.

You're absolutely full of it. Bundi now as well as Wooton. Jokeshop.

ElisaAtWar · 04-03-2021 10:40PM

ShineyShiney wrote: »

You're absolutely full of it. Bundi now as well as Wooton. Jokeshop.

Bundee

ElisaAtWar · 04-03-2021 10:47PM

Let's just witness our Bundee tomorrow. He will add nothing, he will be a huge negative to Connacht rugby, but I guess a Tier 1 game is necessary to understand how little he offers as he trys to solve his international exclusion

Redo91 · 05-03-2021 12:04AM

ElisaAtWar wrote: »

Let's just witness our Bundee tomorrow. He will add nothing, he will be a huge negative to Connacht rugby, but I guess a Tier 1 game is necessary to understand how little he offers as he trys to solve his international exclusion

Jesus

Bazzo · 05-03-2021 12:22AM

I wish they'd make it so a certain feature also didn't show quotes.

Anyway, the Burke pick seems a bit odd? Would have had Duggan or failing that McAllister.

siltirocker · 05-03-2021 10:34AM

Squidgy Black wrote: »

A winger with lacklustre defence isn't exactly the be all and end all.

I respectfully disagree. In my opinion, a solid defense is more important than a positive attack, and should always be the basis/platform a back three builds himself on.

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Especially considering it's not like he's a barn door falling off tackles left right and centre letting players waltz through.

Connacht hemorrhage tries on his wing, and as much as I disagree often with that other poster, they are correct in saying they are being targeted there. 73% is just that bit short on a tackle return. (Porch for example has improved massively here: 74% last year up to 89% this year. Healy at 87% for the season, etc). Also his defensive positioning is still poor. To be clear he is still in my preferred 23 with TOH, Porch and Healy every week.

I don't know if you recall with Fetu Vainikolo there was a similar scenario. He had a hape of tries and line breaks in a relatively short space of time and then one day the Scarlets kicked the ball at him, and exposed that he couldn't deal with it. (Letting it bounce and trying to stop it then with his feet was the most common approach). Every other time for the rest of his stay he was on the pitch teams would just drop bombs on him. Anyway, I am not saying Wootton has high ball issues. More so that regardless of how deadly in attack you are if oppositions are getting wise to your defensive frailties that isn't a good sign.

phog · 05-03-2021 10:43AM

ElisaAtWar wrote: »

Bundee

If you're going to correct a poster's spelling of a player's name then it's best you learn to spell player's names yourself.

arsebiscuits1 · 05-03-2021 10:46AM

ElisaAtWar wrote: »

Bundee

Fua Leiofi

KBurke85 · 05-03-2021 01:32PM

The A game tomorrow will be streamed on the Connacht Rugby Youtube channel

FACECUTTR · 05-03-2021 02:08PM

KBurke85 wrote: »

The A game tomorrow will be streamed on the Connacht Rugby Youtube channel

Any update on the team ?

bayern · 05-03-2021 03:03PM

CONNACHT EAGLES MATCHDAY SQUAD VS MUNSTER ‘A’
12pm, Saturday 6th March 2021 @ The Sportsground

15. Oran McNulty
14. Peter Sullivan
13. Ben O’Donnell
12. Cathal Forde(u20)
11. Diarmuid Kilgallen
10. Conor Fitzgerald
9. Colm Reilly
1. Charlie Ward
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin
3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy
4. Cian Prendergast
5. Ciaran Booth
6. Donnacha Byrne(u20)
7. Sean Masterson (c)
8. Abraham Papali’i

16. Declan Adamson
17. Eoin de Buitlear(u20)
18. Conor Kenny
19. Diarmuid McCormack(u20)
20. Oisin McCormack(u20)
21. Stephen Kerins
22. Shane Jennings(u20)
23. Hubert Gilvarry(u20)
24. Joshua Dunne

Wegians89 · 05-03-2021 03:06PM

bayern wrote: »

CONNACHT EAGLES MATCHDAY SQUAD VS MUNSTER ‘A’
12pm, Saturday 6th March 2021 @ The Sportsground

15. Oran McNulty
14. Peter Sullivan
13. Ben O’Donnell
12. Cathal Forde(u20)
11. Diarmuid Kilgallen
10. Conor Fitzgerald
9. Colm Reilly
1. Charlie Ward
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin
3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy
4. Cian Prendergast
5. Ciaran Booth
6. Donnacha Byrne(u20)
7. Sean Masterson (c)
8. Abraham Papali’i

16. Declan Adamson
17. Eoin de Buitlear(u20)
18. Conor Kenny
19. Diarmuid McCormack(u20)
20. Oisin McCormack(u20)
21. Stephen Kerins
22. Shane Jennings(u20)
23. Hubert Gilvarry(u20)
24. Joshua Dunne

Give or take 8 back rows in that squad

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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