Team named for Edinburgh
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS EDINBURGH RUGBY
Saturday 25th March, 15:00 @ The Sportsground
Number/Name/Caps
15. Oran McNulty (13)
14. Diarmuid Kilgallen (14)
13. Tom Farrell (93)
12. Cathal Forde (10)
11. John Porch (75)
10. David Hawkshaw (12)
9. Caolin Blade (164)
1. Peter Dooley (14)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (18)
3. Jack Aungier (46)
4. Oisín Dowling (38)
5. Niall Murray (50)
6. Cian Prendergast (41)
7. Conor Oliver (57)
8. Jarrad Butler (110)
16. Dave Heffernan (178)
17. Jordan Duggan (36)
18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (77)
19. Darragh Murray (7)
20. Shamus Hurley-Langton (14)
21. Kieran Marmion (224)
22. Tom Daly (73)
23. Shane Jennings (1)
That's a stonking good signing 👏
With all the press about backing the academy guys I'd wonder if we're taking a different approach to the squad: slightly smaller squad with a larger number of (cheaper) young homegrown players and a smaller but more high quality signings from abroad. Not exactly sure where the signings from other provinces fit in there as so many have come in and been excellent for us so don't want to shut down that pathway.
Huge game tomorrow. Our game is before the Sharks game so a chance to pile the pressure on them but in reality we just need to do the business in these two home games and see what's to play for going to Glasgow.
That team wouldn't inspire me but I guess we must have no other options. I'd be worried up front as Edinburgh have a strong side named and Darcy Graham always worries me. I presume at full back O'Halloran is injured ?
At least the insanity of marmion not being in the 23 has been rectified.
Edinburgh have a big game against Leicester next Friday but overall have been disappointing this season in the league and with ulster away in the last game they look very unlikely to make the top 7/8 even with a win tomorrow but theyll be looking to get some momentum for next weekend.
This kinda reminds me of the Glasgow game last season where we collapsed with a patched together side. Hopefully the level of rotation we have used this season might be beneficial here and some players who have been in and out this season can step up when really needed.
Strong Edinburgh side.....
https://edinburghrugby.org/the-clubhouse/graham-returns-for-galway-clash/
The selectors continue to baffle me. Would have thought this was an occasion where we'd want Tiernan. Would also prefer to see Illo in over DRMC. Am a little surprised that Forde is not been given a chance at 10 seeing as himself and Hawkshaw are interchangeable. i like Hawkshaw in the centre have the impression that he snatches too much at 10, composure is a bit wanting, but at least he's getting a decent crack. Same could be said of Oran McNulty, although he hasn't shoe so far, hopefully he takes his chance tomorrow. Finger crossed Jennings gets a decent run.
O'Halloran may be injured. Bit concerned about McNulty, he makes a lot of errors. Wouldn't be too harsh on him though as he's never been given a run to establish form. I see the merit in going with a more experienced option at tighthead. Hawkshaw has 5 starts at 10 this season to Forde's zero so I think there's also justification in looking for the continuity there. Hopefully having Forde outside him offering a left footed kicking option will take some of the pressure off him.
Jack with hamstring. Tiernan with hip surgery. Both due back next week
Hip surgery? Due back next week? Is there such a thing as minor hip surgery?
There are keyhole surgeries on the hip that are minor.
To be fair surgery could have happened two weeks ago after the dragons match. Teams are not under any pressure to announce injury updates. Especially when that player is rumoured out of contract in a few weeks
Big day today, looking for lions, Connacht , Scarlets and Ulster wins
Nervous about this.
Edinburgh look strong and they have 0 respect for us after last year.
Was that kilgallon who made the tackle on Graham? Whoever it was it was fantastic
Discipline here will kill us
Extremely frustrating performance. Much better on both sides of the ball but restarts and indiscipline are killing us.
Bit of fortune with the intercept there as Edinburgh had completely turned the momentum of the match. Could be a big score right on half time.
Could very easily have been a one point game at half time. If we can sort the discipline we should win comfortably, Edinburgh are very average but we're giving them easy access to our 22.
Connacht had a 20 point lead but this one is far from over you feel.
20 point lead but quickly concede 12 points and get a player sin binned. Not good.
Connacht seem determined to throw this game away due to poor discipline.
Down to 13 now.
That try was incredible from Jennings and then Blade.
You'd better rein that in! EAW will not agree.
Best performance of the season so far
A lot to like about that alright.
Mcnulty had his best game in green, which was great to see.
First time in a while we didn't win the lineout battle and still won which is encouraging.
We're going to see a lot of Forde and Jennings in the next few years, both look absolute ballers.
Bizarre game. 3 trys to 1 at half time with little to no possession. Defensively we are so much better. Forde and Farrell were immense. Hawkshaw was not shabby and Tom Daly did a great job when he came in. Could not believe Caolin's second try was given as he clearly lost control of the ball but at the same time the Kinghorn try was a crazy decision as well. How can you come in from the side with the ball still in the ruck and award a try. If the referee could not see this then you have to worry about the level of officiating at these games. And Jennings looks a very handy player
And let's not take away from the fact that is a bonus point win which was critical
Temporarily upto 6th in the league.
Need favours from Scarlets and Ulster to stay there. Scarlets leading Sharks 10-0 currently.
Would like Glasgow to win too, less likely to need a win the last weekend and drags Munster back into the pack. Who have two games in South Africa to come
If the ball is on the line the player can just come in and dot it down, that's legal. I thought he had actually started his run before Marmion rolled the ball back but the camera angles were inconclusive so it had to be given I suppose. It was poor from Marmion though, it needed to be picked straight and kicked away.
Got one or two breaks at important times today. As well as the intercept the yellow for the shoulder to head could have easily been red with another ref. But Edinburgh made a complete hash of 15 v 13 and ended up with one of their own in the bin, which was the turning point.
Really liked the look of Jennings.
Top seven must be a reasonable possiblity now, need to go all out at home to Cardiff.
Jeepers Galwegians needs points in last 2 games to avoid relegation. Don't think Corinthians will do them any favours by fielding weak team next week
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