Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Strand1970 · 15-10-2022 08:41AM

Looking at the fixtures and it's bleak, we must win our next 3 games against scarlets, ospreys, bennetton. its the 3 inter pros again after that. Munster should have their act together by then. The amount of whingeing last night in the clan stand was embarrassing. Murphy this, Murphy that. He is a chronic ref for both teams and didn't Marshall the offside for either team. Decent defence but clueless in attack. Ffs getting pushed into touch on the 5m line.

realhorrorshow · 15-10-2022 10:34AM

Is it a coincidence that our attack, which has been decent to good for the entirety of Friend's reign thus far, has fallen to pieces in the season that he has seemingly stepped further away from coaching the team? Or is it more do with Lawler replacing Wilkins as attack coach? Wilkins cops a lot of flak on here but the attack was good for the one season it was his remit.

Early days yet but our attack is probably the worst in the league from what I've seen; shapeless, no deception, too deep, dreadful execution of skills, aimless running lines, players not knowing where to be, etc.

Former Coach · 15-10-2022 10:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119747216#Comment_119747216

Agreed on the embarrassing whingeing in the Clan Stand- must we jeer and boo every decision that goes against us? I really don’t think Frank should be officiating at any match involving Munster or Connacht! But our defeat last night wasn’t down to incorrect or biased refereeing decisions. And we really should have been putting pressure on Leinster in their 22 with that last play…..

Couldn’t fault the effort last night-we seem to be able to up our game for the big home inter-pro’s. If we can reproduce that effort for the next few weeks we’re good enough to pick up 8 points. I expect some changes, but not many- Blade or Marmion back in at 9. Porch to 15? We have good back-row options at the moment so some rotation there shouldn’t weaken us. Thought Thornbury and Murray did really well at lineout time and scrum held up well so wouldn’t envisage any change there. Both hookers did well despite a few wayward throws but our defence of the lineout maul is still a worrying issue.

Utopia Parkway · 15-10-2022 01:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119747216#Comment_119747216

I dread seeing Murphy reffing Connacht games as generally I don't think he does us any favours at all despite being a former player. Maybe subconsciously trying to appear unbiased. That said I thought he was fairly even handed with his bad decisions last night.

Shelflife · 15-10-2022 02:17PM

I was at the game last night, I have to say that its simply embarrassing the amount of shite that is thrown at the refs by the "supporters".

Constantly whinging and I mean constantly whinging all night about the offside line, shouting at the ARs to move further up or down depending on who's lineout it was, looking for non existent high tackles and then at the end even when they clearly showed on the big screen that Blade had lifted the ball and an onside Doris caught Blade by the arm causing him to drop the ball for JVdF to pick and go on his break, what did they do ? Roared abuse at Frank calling him a cheat and a prick.

We had plenty of possession and opportunity to win the game last night, we didn't simply because we didn't take our chances, we simply weren't at the races in attack and offered little.

But instead we attack the officials, call for non existent fouls and seriously show up their total ignorance of the basic laws of the game.

It was really poor last night, we had improved over the years but it seemed to be back again.

Yes I'm a ref , I'm not a big fan of Frank, but he was grand last night, the abuse he got from the clan stand simply wasn't acceptable.

ClanofLams · 15-10-2022 02:58PM

We could still be playing and I don’t think we would have scored.

Pack fronted up well, lineout was mainly good, defence good but no cohesion in attack at all.

Niall Murray is a serious player, he has the ability to win a lot of caps for Ireland if he can keep progressing.

Not convinced by the centre partnership at all. Having said that Carty didn’t play well which obviously impacts them, he’s had a fair while out, expect him to get better fairly sharpish now after two games but he needs to.

I suppose the optimistic outlook is that it’s a lot better than after three games when all aspects were a shambles. Looking forward to Tierney Martin & Prendergast coming back in.

The crowd was a bit disappointing, 6900 odd was announced I think. Tickets are too expensive for one off games, had a look earlier, for any game cheapest is €32 behind the goals where every chance you will get drenched, €20 for terrace in Thomond, €25 for stand in RDS. I can see very small attendances later on in the season. Even next week hard to see many non season ticket holders paying €32.

Dubinusa · 15-10-2022 03:36PM

I thought Connacht played fairly well. There is the bones of a good team there.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 15-10-2022 04:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119738404#Comment_119738404

John Ryan might be going cheap. If his salary isn't being paid and teams bound by salary caps don't have cap space for him.

If there is any budget room at all I think he should be offered a contract. The offer might be something he shouldn't accept but it might still sign him.

connachta · 15-10-2022 06:21PM

I'd be way more on signing Willis we (and Ireland) would make long-term use at n°8 than knackered Ryan

ElisaAtWar · 15-10-2022 10:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119747216#Comment_119747216

There is no 10 of any worth at Connacht. Fitz did fine at full back as he has done at 10. But he's just a bang average player. Hawkshaw is a very decent centre but a very ordinary 10. Tom Daly had the potential but his recent injury return has seen him providing little to offer in the centre never mind putting him at 10. And Jack, the long-standing experiment, has never really cut it. So it's kinda hard for a team to ever get results in such a situation. I feel really sorry for the rest of the team as they put their bodies on the line

16-10-2022 09:54AM

I'm very disappointed with some of our crowd. The best part of 20 years as a season ticket holder and I hate being in the Clan on nights like this.

Frank Murphy is a mediocre ref who doesn't get the right type of control on games but he's not setting out to be biassed. He doesn't deserve an entire half of Connacht fans roaring "you blind c£&t", "you useless pr£&k", and various other abuse at him after every single decision regardless of whether it's correct or not. He does hear some of this and it won't help us with him or any other ref.

I wouldn't want abuse like that at a soccer match, I wouldn't want it at a GAA match, and I definitely don't want it at Connacht matches. If every game was like that I'd be retiring in my season ticket and watching on TV.

We lost that game because we were inept with the ball in hand, couldn't straighten our attacking line, and kept making errors in good positions. The stats will back that up.

ShineyShiney · 16-10-2022 11:12AM

Disappointed to lose, even more disappointed to not get a losing bp in such a tight game.

We are improving, I'm happy with that. Next week is a big game in the context of the season, we will either be the whipping boys or we start getting a few points now.

connachta · 16-10-2022 11:21AM

Davidson would start a new era coming next season

ElisaAtWar · 16-10-2022 05:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119750929#Comment_119750929

The scoreboard suggested a close game. The game suggested Connacht had every right to believe they should have potentially won the game. The fact that they couldn't mount a worthwhile attack with all their possession does not suggest improvement. It suggests the pack are doing their job well and being let down elsewhere

ShineyShiney · 17-10-2022 12:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119752388#Comment_119752388

I usually use the scoreboard to decide if a game was close or not.

eastcoastclan · 17-10-2022 12:00PM

Much improved performance on Friday thought we really put it up to them in the pack. Worried about our attack though not only do we not look like scoring we look very prone to an intercept or dropped ball resulting in conceding a try like we did against the Bulls. Lots needs to be worked on there. Must win against Scarlets now, will really see what we're made of then.

Zeugnis · 18-10-2022 10:28AM

This Friday is a big game for us. Everyone knew the opening five fixtures would be difficult, now it's Scarlets. We won this game in Wales last season, and it's imperative we do so again at home. The 42 reports that Dooley may be out with a hamstring, which is unfortunate but would hopefully mean a first game of the season for Matthew Burke who was good last year and may feel a bit aggrieved at his lack of minutes so far this year. But at a higher level, the question is can our attack show real penetration, something which has not been the case so far. Despite the pessimism among Connacht fans, I thought the performance of the pack last week provided some grounds for optimism.

Dubinusa · 18-10-2022 01:01PM

Connacht at home should be enough to win.

serfboard · 18-10-2022 01:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119759540#Comment_119759540

You make an interesting point about the pessimism among Connacht fans. I think that it's possibly more frustration that the game against Leinster was there for the taking. To take the optimistic view, we have improved massively against Leinster. It wasn't that long ago I was at the Sportsground to see Leinster wrap up a bonus point win in under half an hour.

And Ronan O'Gara acknowledged that the way Connacht played Leinster last year in the Sportsground showed him how Leinster could be beaten. "The Connacht game in Galway and the Leicester game gave me enough ammunition to work with."

So, we've played five hard matches, and come away with only one win. Hopefully, we can start to put some more wins on the board now.

Digifriendly · 19-10-2022 06:19AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119760281#Comment_119760281

Don't fully disagree but problem at this stage of season is momentum and to some extent confidence with just 1 win. League table does not look good for Connacht and a defeat against Scarlets would really be a bit of a disaster even at this stage of the season.

eastcoastclan · 19-10-2022 03:26PM

Frank Murphy referee again on Friday. I don't think a referee should ref the same team 2 weeks in a row.

b.gud · 19-10-2022 03:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119765968#Comment_119765968

Furlo on twitter, who is usually spot on with these things, says it's Marius Van Der Westhuizen

Conor15th · 19-10-2022 05:54PM

!!

eastcoastclan · 19-10-2022 05:56PM

Ah I fell for a joke it seems. Delighted with that !

Wegians89 · 20-10-2022 07:41AM

Seems like the Irish management really want a look at blade, not surprisingly really. Probably the closest thing to JGP there is.

Zeugnis · 20-10-2022 11:59AM

Team against Scarlets

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (207)

14. John Porch (64)

13. Byron Ralston (5)

12. David Hawkshaw (5)

11. Mack Hansen (18)

10. Jack Carty (182) (C)

9. Kieran Marmion (213)

1. Denis Buckley (213)

2. Dave Heffernan (170)

3. Finlay Bealham (178)

4. Niall Murray (39)

5. Leva Fifita (17)

6. Cian Prendergast (32)

7. Conor Oliver (45)

8. Paul Boyle (77)

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (8)

17. Jordan Duggan (28)

18. Jack Aungier (36)

19. Oisín Dowling (29)

20. Jarrad Butler (98)

21. Colm Reilly (12)

22. Cathal Forde (2)

23. Alex Wootton (35)

20-10-2022 01:29PM

Good to see Wootton back, but what is going on with Adam Byrne?

Dubinusa · 20-10-2022 01:44PM

Hawkshaw getting a run! He's going to be quality, imo. Boyle looks like he's flying. That's just what Connacht need!

KBurke85 · 20-10-2022 02:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119770332#Comment_119770332

Byrne was injured and just back in training the past few weeks

eastcoastclan · 20-10-2022 02:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119770332#Comment_119770332

Byrne was playing AIL last week as he returned from injury, so probably still working his way back to full fitness.

Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

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