I thought the Connacht non-try should have been given tbh, I don't see how it wasn't grounded, but I guess they actually need to see it given the on-field was no try. Very unlucky.
It was handbags at best, yes I think it was Doris and it was off the ball but from the view I seen it wasn't in the face. Not sure why the player was down for a few minutes unless they though lying on the ground for a while would make the ref review the situation, nothing in it suggested he was hurt
Now I could be wrong as watching without the replay function on the TV but that was my view
Tough match ahead next Sunday!
Any idea what happened to Dowling? Fifita started instead and I wondered if it was due to a knock of just a late change?
I thought Burke did reasonably well again, Alaalatoa seemed to be constantly in the ref's ear about him, but IIRC Leinster just got the one scrum penalty (Aungier under pressure from Porter).
Overall I felt it was a decent display by Connacht, especially give they were understrength. A couple of decisions didn't go their way (the McNulty and Dev try calls), but didn't determine the result. Leinster's top talent really showed their stuff (JVDF, Doris, Porter, Sheahan).
Some how the last night I completely missed that there was a camera angle that shows McNulty grounding the ball. Only seeing it on the Monday highlights here. Pretty bad miss by the TMO.
Same, nailed on try. Poor from the tmo
Saw the same angle on against the head last night, cant say I remember it being shown from that angle on TG4 on Friday night.
The grounding from McNulty was never in question as far as I was concerned, the question was if Baird grounded the ball prior to him. In the end they said Baird grounded the ball so it didn't matter what mcNulty did after that. They showed the angle on Premier which clearly showed him grounding the ball
The TMO said that Baird hadn't grounded the ball but they had no clear sight of McNulty grounding the ball.
Ultimately it doesn't really matter and most likely wasn't going tp change the result of the game.
They seemed to slow down the video at a point where the ball was under Baird's thigh for a second, did they rule that the ball was touched down off his leg?
Other than that I couldn't see why that was given as a grounding, even at that it's a poor call in my opinion.
When Hansen scored his try from the crossfield kick, there was clear contact in the air from Larmour who never managed to get up to contest. Had MH not scored, surely there would have been a penalty? Given that he did score, would the logic behind not sanctioning him be that it was not dangerous enough to warrant a yellow? Or does the fact of a score result in the ref ignoring the infraction?
(I don't think there was any malice in it and a card would seem unjust but... rules?).
No. It wasnt dangerous. Look at how hansen jumped for the ball. no if hansen hadnt scored it wouldnt have been a penalty and no that there was a score means ref will just ignore the penalty offence.
This always pisses me off. Play should have restarted with a penalty on halfway and a yellow/red card as appropriate. Once a try is scored refs/TMOs seem to have no interest in any high tackles/knee slides etc that preceded.
In other news, Oisin Dowling and Jack Aungier have signed contract extensions.
Larmour didn't do anything wrong though. He didn't wrap around Hansen in the air, he didn't get underneath him, he didn't upend him. The contact happened because of Hansen jumping, Larmour didn't have to get out of the way.
The ref got it right.
So who's on the card for Europe
Farrell for Arnold, the latter covering wing and centre from the bench n°23
Robb 12, does ok and no other choices but Forde (i'd take the risk to list him as n°22 covering 10/12 instead of C.Fitz though)
Bolton should be tried at 12 too à la DeAllende but not this time
Dowling back in, always solid
Prendergast for Masterson as 6, happey with Butler 8 Oliver 7 on form. Mastersons' battle for 20, or Big Papa
Blade 9, 50/50 but love what it brings in rucks
I hope Porch is ok, to play FB as Hansen/Wootton are nailed on the wings
Maybe Tuimauga'a on the bench...
And N.Murray competing to get the 19 spot with Fifita'a
Yeah, clearcut penalty try for me if Hansen hadn't scored.
Penalty for Leinster for Hansen nearly Kneeing Larmour in the head 😉 Larmour barely touched him and only reason contact was because hansen jumped into him.
He ran in and pushed him while he was in the air. It doesn't look malicious or even particularly dangerous, but it's still illegal.
It's definitely a penalty tho, once Hansen is in the air and Larmour collides with him, just not yellow for me.
I suppose an argument is that refs would play penalty advantage? In which case, try was scored so carry on with conversion.
Team news
Connacht head into the game without the services of Bundee Aki, who continues to rehab the knee injury he sustained during the November internationals.
Meanwhile Paul Boyle will be out of action for a number of weeks with shoulder and Achilles injuries. Denis Buckley (knee), Tom Daly (knee) and Gavin Thornbury (shoulder) are all said to be progressing well with their respective injuries, and the trio will look to return to team training over the next month.
https://www.the42.ie/connacht-stade-francais-andy-friend-5622517-Dec2021/
Loosehead
Denis Buckley (32) - Signed contract in 2021
Matthew Burke (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Jordan Duggan (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Tietie Tuimauga (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Charlie Ward (22) - Academy year 2
Tighthead
Jack Aungier (23) - Signed contract in 2022
Finlay Bealham (31) - Signed contract in 2021
Sam Illo (21) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Greg McGrath (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Hooker
Shane Delahunt (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Dave Heffernan (31) - Signed contract in 2021
Jonny Murphy (30) - Signed contract in 2021
Dylan Tierney-Martin (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Declan Adamson (23) - Academy year 3
Eoin De Buitléar (20) - Academy year 2
Lock
Ultan Dillane (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Oisin Dowling (25) - Signed contract in 2022
Leva Fifita (33) - Signed contract in 2021
Niall Murray (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Gavin Thornbury (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Darragh Murray (21) - Academy year 2
Back row
Paul Boyle (25) - Signed contract in 2021
Jarrad Butler (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Eoghan Masterson (29) - Signed contract in 2021
Sean Masterson (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Conor Oliver (26) - Signed contract in 2021
Abraham Papali’i (29) - Signed contract in 2021
Cian Prendergast (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Ciaran Booth (22) - Academy year 2
Donnacha Byrne (21) - Academy year 2
Oisin McCormack (21) - Academy year 3
Scrumhalf
Caolin Blade (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Kieran Marmion (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2020
Colm Reilly (23) - Signed contract in 2021
Will Reilly (u22) - Academy year 1
Outhalf
Jack Carty (30) - Signed 3 year contract in 2022
Conor Fitzgerald (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Cathal Forde (20) - Academy year 2
Centre
Bundee Aki (32) - Signed 3 year central contract in 2020
Shayne Bolton (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Tom Daly (29) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Tom Farrell (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Peter Robb (28) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Shane Jennings (21) - Academy year 3
Back 3
Mack Hansen (24) - Signed 2 year contract in 2021
Matt Healy (33) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
Oran McNulty (22) - Signed contract in 2021
Ben O'Donnell (27) - Signed contract in 2020
Tiernan O'Halloran (31) - Signed 2 year contract in 2020
John Porch (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Peter Sullivan (24) - Signed contract in 2021
Alex Wootton (28) - Signed contract in 2021
Diarmuid Kilgallen (22) - Academy year 2
Josh O'Connor (21) - Academy year 1
IN:
OUT: Sammy Arnold (Centre, Brive)
*ages as at 01/09/2022
Definitely out of contract
Dominic Robertson-McCoy (Tighthead)
Jarrad Butler (Back row)
Caolin Blade (Scrumhalf)
Tom Daly (Centre)
Tom Farrell (Centre)
Peter Robb (Centre)
Matt Healy (Back 3)
Tiernan O'Halloran (Back 3)
Probably out of contract - signed contract of unspecified length in 2020
Ben O'Donnell (Wing)
Possibly out of contract signed contract of unspecified length in 2021
Denis Buckley (Loosehead)
Matthew Burke (Loosehead)
Jordan Duggan (Loosehead)
Tietie Tuimauga (Loosehead)
Finlay Bealham (Tighthead)
Greg McGrath (Tighthead)
Shane Delahunt (Hooker)
Dave Heffernan (Hooker)
Jonny Murphy (Hooker)
Dylan Tierney-Martin (Hooker)
Leva Fifita (Lock)
Niall Murray (Lock)
Gavin Thornbury (Lock)
Paul Boyle (Back row)
Eoghan Masterson (Back row)
Sean Masterson (Back row)
Conor Oliver (Back row)
Abraham Papali’i (Back row)
Cian Prendergast (Back row)
Colm Reilly (Scrumhalf)
Conor Fitzgerald (Outhalf)
Shayne Bolton (Centre)
Oran McNulty (Back 3)
John Porch (Back 3)
Peter Sullivan (Back 3)
Alex Wootton (Back 3)
Academy year 3
Declan Adamson (Hooker)
Oisin McCormack (Back row)
Shane Jennings (Centre)
I think Matt Healy will retire. Tom Daly should be a priority for a new contract!
Thought Connacht played pretty well in Dublin despite score line. Unlucky not to get bonus point. Carty’s excellent kick when 5-0 up that could have easily bounced for 50-22 and five yard line out but instead bounced dead for Leinster scrum inside Connacht half was a big moment. I expect Leinster would have won anyway but it would have been interesting if Connacht could have got ten or twelve up.
Suprised to see Connacht 5-6 point favourites for game v Stade. I don’t follow french league so don’t know much about them but see they beat La Rochelle last week and presume they have the standard massive pack. I give Connacht a fair chance but would have expected 50-50 odds instead of Connacht being clear favourites.
That's why we should retain O'Donnell IMO
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS STADE FRANCAIS
Sunday 12th December, The Sportsground @ 13:00
Number/Name/Caps
15. Oran McNulty (4)
14. Alex Wootton (24)
13. Shayne Bolton (1)
12. Sammy Arnold (22)
11. Mack Hansen (7)
10. Jack Carty (166) (C)
9. Kieran Marmion (193)
1. Matthew Burke (30)
2. Shane Delahunt (107)
3. Finlay Bealham (166)
4. Oisín Dowling (12)
5. Niall Murray (22)
6. Cian Prendergast (15)
7. Conor Oliver (27)
8. Jarrad Butler (80)
Replacements
16. Dave Heffernan (151)
17. Jordan Duggan (19)
18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (69)
19. Leva Fifita (3)
20. Seán Masterson (14)
21. Caolin Blade (137)
22. Conor Fitzgerald (41)
23. Tom Farrell (66)
No Papa Leahy again, strange. The Master of None podcast interviewed him this week¸worth a listen:
https://anchor.fm/stephen-murphy8/episodes/A-chat-with-Abraham-Papalii-e1b3ggq
Is Dillane injured?
Saw an article on RTÉ mention Dillane is absent, whatever that means.
Some more changes. Hanson Fifita and Farrell drop out of the 23
Not a particularly strong team, reaching well down the depth chart up front and at centre. Have no idea what to expect really, haven't seen Stade play for a long time. Should be a great occasion anyway, great to have top flight European rugby back in front of a crowd at the Sports ground.
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