Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Jesus christ Kilgallen my heart

Good win in the end, and great start to the season

I couldn't see an issue with kilgallens try at all, wouldn't like to see him dot many more like that but couldn't see any reason to disallow it.

Didn't expect us to win this as Glasgow came with as good a team as they could select, so to come away disappointed to have not got the bonus point and to have let them have one is q good sign.

Not sure I could give Forde the potm after the huge mistake he made for their first try as it was such a momentum swing. That aside he was, once again, excellent.

For me one of the forwards should have got potm. Probably one of SHL, Big Joe Joyce and Prendergast. Prendergast and SHL were both a menace for Glasgow, they were at every breakdown or making tackles, just relentless the two of them. Joyce has been excellent in both games, huge work rate and great physicality.

Feeling more positive about the season with each passing match 😀 Bring on Ulster!!

Thought Glasgow came expecting a 5 pointer. They had, correctly, identified our restarts as an area to be exploited, never seen a team look to take restarts so fast. They were very physical but when we didn't crack under that pressure they didn't look too threatening, so to concede 4 tries is not ideal but something we can work on. Connacht did a great job containing their big runners, Kebble in particular who was facing hard double tackles every time he carried. If we finish ahead of this Glasgow team our season will have gone OK.

Rugby is a funny game. After watching the world cup final I just saw two teams that were committed completely. So while the scoreline wasnt terribly interesting the game itself was completely absorbing.

And while I know it would be difficult to replicate that at URC level, it is the difference between winning and losing.

This Connacht team is probably the best team I have ever witnessed. I truthfully believe that and God knows I have watched the good and bad days.

But, just watching the world cup final, the desire is what wins games. And I think we have that fire and that ability this year

Would be a great start to the season if they can beat Ulster next weekend. 3 home games in a row helps no doubt with a trip to South Africa coming up in a few weeks. Last season the first 5 games was a murderer's row.

They were wrapping his wrist at one point but ďont know if that's what brought him off.

Got a chance to look at the JJ challenge in the air on TV and it was a fair challenge. And Tom looked like he might have broken a bone somewhere around the wrist. Have to say again that Tom Farrell and Gary Ringrose are the best outside centres in Irish Rugby. I hope it was just a painful jab for Tom. We need him badly.

Thought the choice of TOH at fullback was a wise choice. He really manages the defence well while Ralston and Kilgallen were really impressive. He even showed some serious pace to close down a certain try from Glasgow.

Overall it was a good performance. Glasgow had many players back from international duty and still we were the better team.

No more Pete Wilkins out chants from me anyway 😀. That was a very good performance

I was thinking the same and recalling the videos of Sexton and Stephen Cluxton discussing kicking techniques. JJ kicked well, but the elevation on some of them was too high and really brought the wind into play. One could take a horses for courses approach, depending on the location and weather. Otherwise I like the way JJ is settling in, seems composed in his game management and not over-egging it.

I doubt it. I think he will be 35 when this contract expires. I know TH have longer careers than most but I think Hansen is more likely.

Will be a tricky one you'd imagine. We probably can't compete financially with what's available elsewhere, and we can't offer a clear path to international rugby. Fingers crossed.

Crucial bit of business. TH props of his quality are always attractive and for my money he's outplayed furlong when available this year. While he seems to genuinely love connacht and living in Galway, I imagine there were at least some inquiries for him from teams with the ability to make an attractive offer.

Aungier seems to be taking a step forward this year after a very solid previous season, so encouraging times

Do wonder with Porch available this weekend, will he make the starting 15. It would be a very harsh call on the back 3 that started vs Glasgow. And I was talking to a friend of mine at the Glasgow game and he said something that I thought was bang on. TOH is not an impact sub. He either starts or he is not in the 23. What he offers is stability, not excitement. He makes sure that the back 3 offer their best defensive coverage. But he is not the guy who is likely to be scoring the tries. Two games in and it's very clear the difference with TOH and without TOH.

And then if you look at Ralston and Kilgallen you get to appreciate that both of them can do their thing because they know behind them is sorted. And that's a comfort for them.

So then we get back to the question should Porch start? And my say is no. John is a fine rugby player but I don't believe he deserves to start ahead of our current wingers who really are doing great stuff.

On another matter I attach an article related to Gavin Thornbury and Andy Friends opinion of his injury profile

'you become sick and tired of being sick and tired’. And I thought Andy Friend said it exactly right in relation to Gavin

It's a tough one. If Porch is fit and ready then he makes our best 15. It is tough to drop the lads who played the last day but as TOH said in the presser the competition for places is insane in the back 3. I can't wait to see more of Smith, and Bolton could be the type of powerful wing to put up against an in form Stockdale. McNamara has looked decent too. Hansen has to come back. It's exciting. And that's without even mentioning Santi.

It all depends on the bench split we go with. But if Porch is fit I say start him, probably ahead of Ralston. But then Ralston offers centre cover - again it depends on the split!

The squad update stated that everyone who played against Glasgow is available except for JJ.

Jack is back in contention this week I think Wilkins mentioned

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (223)

14. Byron Ralston (17)

13. Tom Farrell (101)

12. Cathal Forde (15)

11. Diarmuid Kilgallen (18)

10. Jack Carty (196)

9. Caolin Blade (172)

1. Denis Buckley (230)

2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (26)

3. Jack Aungier (52)

4. Oisín Dowling (46)

5. Joe Joyce (2)

6. Shamus Hurley-Langton (22)

7. Conor Oliver (64)

8. Cian Prendergast (49)

16. Tadgh McElroy (2)

17. Jordan Duggan (40)

18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (81)

19. Niall Murray (58)

20. Jarrad Butler (116)

21. Colm Reilly (19)

22. David Hawkshaw (14)

23. Andrew Smith (1)