Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Yeah Thornbury and Oliver injured. The 42 reported yesterday Connacht were hopeful he would fly out later this week but today say himself and Oliver are "ruled out" so I presume he won't be flying out now. Jack Carty is expected to fly out later in the week along with few other players to replace those departing.

Hopefully. The 42 seems definitive about it.

"Lock Gavin Thornbury, who captained the side in their dismal 36-10 loss to Ulster on Saturday, and flanker Conor Oliver have also been ruled out, but it’s expected that Carty, who underwent wrist surgery during the summer, will link up with them."

Pete Wilkins: Adam Byrne's omission from South Africa tour 'no big story' (the42.ie)

That’s on the IRFU though, we could have been having them much more frequently.

To suddenly bring 35 players away on a tour in the second season of a new league which has altered schedule and made a deliberate aim of not clashing with international windows is a ridiculous move.

Also according to Bernard Jackman, they wanted to bring a second string, those on the fringes of the Irish squad but there was no communication with the provinces about it, the provinces were unhappy with it so it ended up with this mish mash of a squad which includes a lot of guys miles from the senior squad. So the tour isn’t even serving the intended purpose.

Lads, missed the game on Saturday. Saw the YouTube highlights and read a bit about it. But listening to the Craggy Rugby Pod yesterday they basically said a few were miles off.

Who was bad? And any good spots other than Murphy? Thanks.

I thought Dylan Tierney Martin made a decent impact and his line out throwing looked solid enough which I thought may be his biggest challenge.

It’s hard to tell though when guys come on 25 down or whatever, seems like some of the intensity is gone out of the game. Hopefully it’s a closer affair when he comes on this week.

Don't get what everybody have against Porch

His final action in our 22 showed how much quality he has

not perfect maybe but good player

we didn't lose this on on the backline but with forwards. Out-powered.

Hadn't realised how short they are at 7 bar Oliver. Could really do with Óisín McCormack breaking through this season. I would like to see Niall Murray start. Fifita's heft is probably useful but he looks very average generally.

SHL was playing 7 in NZ last season, started there against castre and came on there last weekend. Think he’s more open side than 8 tbh

I don't think there's any bad feeling towards Porch, quite the contrary. Some months ago we discussed that he could improve in defense, and he does need to tighten up on his discipline, but broadly speaking he's probably been our most consistent back three performer for the last couple of years, let's leave Mack aside as he's only been here a year. He was one of the few decent performers on Saturday, but that was noted up the thread...

Good to see Tierney Martin getting a start, pity he is due away on that tour next week but enough said about that at this stage.

Farrell Ralston seems like a combo that will either click or be disastrous, hopefully the former….

Stormers have gone with six two split on their bench, will need big impact from ours to get anything out of this.

Connacht are playing a reserve side. They should be very competitive. There should be no excuses.

Stormers are more than the sum of their parts to be fair. But yes, would expect a competitive showing at the least.

Poor kicking from Fitzgerald costly

You have no chance when you make basic mistakes like that from McNulty.