Defence is a big issue here lads.
117 tackles made and 30 missed (Stade were 103/18). And it's experienced guys too, TOH missed 4, Arnold 5, Carty 6. Last week it was 22 missed vs 8 by Leicester.
Of the teams in the last 16, only Montpellier conceded more points in the pools.
You're bringing a knife to a gunfight with stats like these.
I remember Connacht having to play quarters and semis in the Parker Pen/Challenge Cup over two legs and on aggregate score.
Just haven'really seen it before and not sure why it's been used in the last 16 only of this competition .
I would have thought the higher seeded team gets home advantage in a one off game.
It’s been used because there are only 4 group games so the extra match is needed to soften the blow of having two less games at group stage. It’s a mess and hopefully it gets back to a proper competition set up next season.
I was disappointed that Illo only got a five minutes. In the one scrum he seemed to hold his own and it was unclear why Barnes gave Stade the penalty, commentators were confused as well. Given the problems McGrath had been having, what was there to lose?
Hope Dowling wasn't badly injured, he's become an important player for us over the last few months, and is essential especially until Gav Thornbury returns. Fifita hasn't made much of an impact.
I think Carty get a lot of unwarranted criticism. I think we lack leaders too. If Bundee is there he motivates the team. Butler whilst having a good game is not the best leader. All fit the backrow is 6 Prendergast 7 Oliver 8 Boyle. He maybe makes the 20 jersey. I know it's not a big bruising pack but you have to be able to win a few Scrum penalties in a game or at least hold your own. Missed tackles is something that is creeping back in too. Saying that with a fully fit squad I'd expect us to give Leinster 2 competitive games.
Since the GAA county grounds rules have changed and its now up to the countys could connacht may be look at using pearse park or mcchale park for there home game getting extra capacity that way and not having to cross the shannon?
Mchale Park unavailable as a new pitch has gone in.Its touch and go whether it'll be ready for Mayo Galway on April 24th.
Would like to see it going to Pearse stadium for the novelty value and to see what kind of crowd it would get.
Any idea when Gavin Thornbury is back ? Buckley will at the least be able come on as a Sub. Tom Daly/Aki will be a better combo then the arnold/robb one leinster faced the last time. McCoy will need to be back to face portor as Aungier was destroyed by him. The players Connacht are missing have experience and size. So a Clean bill of health is needed when you have a small squad, much like Leeds Utd are discovering.
The report was Thornbury expected to be back training mid-February. By the time Leinster come around, Buckley should be fine. Aungier went off injured against Leicester, not sure what his status is. Given how effective Burke has been at LH, it seems to me that the area of concern is now TH.
According to the MasterofNone on twitter, Buckley will be available for this week's game against Glasgow.
Some comeback from Denis - he looked in serious shape in the photos from training last week. Fingers crossed the knee holds up well.
Buckley coming back at a good time. At least its coming into good weather again which suits Connacht style. Big difference playing Connacht on a wet Winter night and playing them in late spring/summer
Leva Fifita seems like a workhorse who covers a lot of ground, could see him covering 8 to see out a game. Thought he had a good cameo. Sam illo should probably get more game time going on his short appearance.
Last Week brian o'driscoll main criticism of Jack Carty was he doesnt run square or run straight enough
But Ben healy has said this week
One of the first things I noticed with Steve early on was that he’s not afraid to break the rules in terms of what you are told growing up. Little things, like you are always told to run square or run straight as an out-half for example, whereas he’ll tell you that in different situations you need to be able to drift on the pass, you need to be able to cut under the pass. In terms of passing in wet conditions, he’s got little cues.
Is Prendergast long term future solely as a backrow lads?
I would assume so, hasn’t featured much in second row. Nailed on 6 in the squad too
I certainly hope so.
Wonder could he be a future No. 8...
Jim you know full well you don't get out of Limerick after insulting the Munster out half... No exceptions... #WhereROGwasGod
Will we be without Cian this weekend? Guessing we'll definitely be less Bundee, Jack and Finlay but not sure about Cian. When are the Irish squad off to Portugal?
The Irish team trained in Dublin today. I
imagine they head to Portugal in the next day or two. I wouldn’t expect Cian to be available
I read that Bundee and Finlay have minor injuries, sounded like they wouldn't have been available anyway.
Both were tested so they'd make international camp so could play this weekend if the 6 nations hadn't happened
Yes, my mistake, what I read was an update from last weekas to why they weren't playing against Stade. And Bundee was described as unavailable because of illness, not injury.
Josh Murphy is joining Connacht?
Is he coming as a 6 or a second row?
Seen that on the Leinster thread. Has to be second row. I can't see Fifita being kept and with Dillane leaving he will get the game time.
Irish times posted an article about Murphy moving west and have now removed it from their site as far as I can see.
Hopefully they haven’t done that because it’s inaccurate, think he would be a good signing.
He would be a good signing. I was skeptical when this idea was previously mooted. Three games for Leinster this season, including two starts at 5 in Europe. I think he'd be a great addition to Connacht, twenty six and fifty caps for Leinster.
He completed his medical degree last year. I wonder if he might be able to combine his rugby career with work in the hospital in Galway (probably unrealistic, a junior doctor's load is a heavy one).
I think it alsdo tells us something about who Leinster want to hold: Deegan, and probably Penny (in addition, of couse to the established back rowers: Conan, JDF, Doris, and Connors. Hard to project Dan's future).
He has played 8 for Leinster too. I would imagine he will cover 6/8 mainly
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://wa.vanillicon.com/v2/ad289898c0c6dda7e667bf900ae26d0c.svg)
