Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Do you go full strength or give a few young lads a go?

Team named. Thornbury and Dylan Martin named on the subs. Is Duggan injured strange that he's not covering loosehead.

6-2 split on the bench.

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS BENETTON RUGBY

Saturday 2nd April, 12:00 @ Stadio Monigo

Number/Name/Caps

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (202)

14. John Porch (53)

13. Tom Farrell (74)

12. Sammy Arnold (34)

11. Mack Hansen (9)

10. Jack Carty (174) (C)

9. Kieran Marmion (203)

1. Matthew Burke (35)

2. Dave Heffernan (159)

3. Finlay Bealham (169)

4. Niall Murray (31)

5. Leva Fifita (10)

6. Cian Prendergast (25)

7. Conor Oliver (36)

8. Paul Boyle (71)

Replacements

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (1)

17. Greg McGrath (5)

18. Tietie Tuimauga (8)

19. Gavin Thornbury (58)

20. Abraham Papali’i (21)

21. Caolin Blade (145)

22. Conor Fitzgerald (47)

23. Sean Masterson (16)

Really wish we would move Porch to 15, or try Hansen there. The coaches don't seem to really rate any of our props outside of Buckley, Burke, Bealham, and maybe Tuimauga to a lesser extent.

Great to see Thornbury back, think he and Murray will be a great combination going forward.

They really ought to be able to beat Benetton, especially with the Italians integrating the international lads. I'm happy to see Boyle starting, Butler is just not as good, imo.

I don't think Duggan is rated, tbh. With Dooley arriving he will struggle to get playing time. Thornbury back is great, fantastic player last season.

Connacht by 10.

Should probably have a 3rd try to show for our efforts but some decent signs.

I think the forwards need to hold onto the ball a bit more. Treviso have a man gambling on the pull back (usually to jack) on almost every play and have caught us behind the gainline a couple of times as a result.

A bit more animation from the forwards and holding on to the odd one could pay off.

As usual a couple of poor turnovers against us one off first phase from a set play which is unforgivable.

Benneton are wasting time on their man advantage with these scrums.

Not sure what to make of that game. In one way it's the kind of game we have lost all season and reacted really well after going behind to manufacture a try from the only meaningful bit of possession we had in the whole 2nd half.

As is the case all season ball protection very poor but don't think that's gonna change at this stage.

Prendergast was everywhere but the yellow was a bit silly on his behalf when we were under lots of pressure. Had assumed tuimanga would come on at TH and switch to LH when McGrath came on, not sure what the thinking was there.

Great to see Gavin back on the pitch and thought Tierney Martin showed some glimpses bar the silly push in the back.

Connacht are so inconsistent but they will up their game big time on Friday. Friday night lights, history being made. interpro, Bundee back!

Can see it being a very tight game. Connacht stayed close in both Leinster matches in URC for the first 50 minutes and the occasion will help them keep that for 80.

id expect the first match to be a one score game, second leg could be 40 off points to Leinster depending on how Connacht can recover after the first battle.

On the injury front was there any word on Buckley, Butler, wootton and Sullivan?

buoyant eh?!

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/johnny-sexton-set-to-return-as-leinster-face-buoyant-connacht-1.4843528

And Tom Farrell family are from Mayo

I think the lack of activity on here in the week of our first ever appearance in the champions cup knock out stages is a good indication that you're not the only one feeling deflated. I think we'd all agree that the most likely outcome on Friday is another Leinster cake walk, but the optimist in me is thinking our underdog status represents a glimmer of hope. If we start well and the crowd get involved, anything is possible. As we know too well, you can never rule out a sending off these days either (clutching at straws here I know).