Could be a big lost 3 points at the end of the season. I imagine it will be pretty tight around the middle of the table for Champions Cup qualification.
Agreed ref was v poor. But really can't blame ref when your up by 3 points and win a scrum penalty with 1 min left and still lose
Another 3 points left behind to go with the Edinburgh result. Worked so hard to get ourselves a foothold but when your lineout isn't functioning you can't win against top sides. We had them there for the taking and gifted them the way back in.
The yellow in the first half is a big part of the reason that people turn away from rugby. Maybe by the letter of the law where all the responsibility is on the tackler it's right but in terms of basic common sense it was an outrageous decision and to me sends out the wrong message. The ball carrier leading like that is going to cause serious injury to the defensive player at some point.
The penalty for the bit of shoving after the scrum was very very soft but again especially with irfu refs in an interpro you have to be squeaky clean and not give them that opportunity.
Turning down 3 before ht was a big call and backfired. Then another series of lineouts after half time killed all our momentum. The dummy throw summed up the chaos on our own ball. That didn't change with Tierney Martin either which was very disappointing.
We looked well out of it then but fought our way into a winning position. From there our lack of game management was a joke.
I said it yesterday that if Joyce wasn't injured not having him in the 23 was bordering on incompetence from management. We had no leadership at the end and you just can't keep giving top teams a chance and expect to get away with it.
The reversed penalty was 100% the correct call.
I was at the match it was a joke decision Chris Busby?? Matt Busby dead would have reffed it better
How was being at the match change the fact that reversing the penalty was the correct decision.
Explain why and I'll tell you why not
I think if you pull an opposition player by the scrum cap in a melee you run the risk of being penalised. The fact that Connacht were due to have possession makes it all the worse. Big turning point in the game.
Still don't know how Connacht lost that, the lineout crumbled in the 2nd half (did they throw to Prendergast much? He's normally reliable on 2 ball I'd have thought) and they still had chances at the end to close it out, pity
Maybe explain why you think the ref got it wrong.
We heard his explanation and it matched what we saw on TV.
OK troll not engaging
The yc for connacht quote rte commentators incredibly harsh.
At the match we taught it was a lens yc ffs
MOD: If you have an issue with a post report it, don't call people trolls
You're the one claiming the reversed penalty was incorrect, it's up to you to present a reason why you think the officials got it wrong.
I've told you that the explanation the ref gave matched what we saw on TV and that it was the correct decision
How is that trolling?
Connacht have only themselves to blame for loss, arguing over a disputed penalty call is pointless at this stage.
On to next game, surely a better ending on next Friday 😂 it is Connacht though
there were many good things (indeed and bad things). I think that Connacht were heavier than Leinster (maybe about 20kg) at the pack-weight. So, They have been winning at scrum times and break downs (Connacht BDwas quit stronger than the opponent). It wasproven that the stabilized scrumage creates the stabilized defence.The HC must think the pack size at first. The persistence to the mobilization and quickness is wrong in current rugby game.
the last throwing by DTM didn't seem crooked in my TV screen. But I wonder that who was the caller. It seemed another easy way to slow to nearer catcher. Muldoon must teach the Line Out skill. In Connacht, it seems no SH coach watching Reilley( v Edinborugh) and Blade last night. Both SHs seemed the slow judjement player.
20kg at scrum isn't really an issue and should in no way mean anything in terms of dominance
Having a focus on mobilisation and speed should never be considered a bad thing
That loss still really hurts!
One thing that I've noticed that's a real shortcoming for JJ (who I think has been largely excellent for us) is his touch finders from open play and penalties; he just doesn't get enough distance. When we were in attacking positions we always seemed to be 10-15m out rather than 5 and when defending he barely seemed to clear the 22.
On another note- muldoon said last week that he had totally overhauled the line-out as he want other things from it so hopefully thst gets back to the strength it was last year quickly.
Just got to watch the game back on TV. The decision by Busby to yellow card Forde for getting his head in the way of Charlie Ngatai's shoulder was just the most bizarre decision I have seen in quite some time. To call it head on head was beyond incomprehensible. And to yellow card Forde just borders on ridiculous when it should have been the other way around. I'm simply gobsmacked by this. It is such a downer that officiating is destroying many of the games in the URC
The reversed penalty on 35 minutes against SHL was a joke. So it's ok for players to front up, push each other around with arms raised into each other's faces but it is unacceptable that one player touch another players cap. What law of rugby says this? This is all typical rugby argy bargy. Clearly if one player hits another player, this is unacceptable. But who decided that grabbing another's players cap in such a melee is considered a culpable infringement. And this was the basis for the Charlie Ngatai try for Leinster.
Having the clock past 39 minutes and for JJ to kick to the corner was such a totally stupid call. 8-7 at the time, tight game, you take the points. Crazy decision
So that was my analysis of the first half. But there were worrying signs. The scrum and lineout for Connacht were dominant and yet Leinster had the vast majority of the possession and the territory in the first half. Some of that was based on really poor kicking by JJ for touch but also based on being pushed back on most every move
Get the simple game management stuff right. It should be basic. Leinster didn’t win that game, they were given it.
Poor game management in the final few minutes. They didn't have to win a Scrum penalty just get it out. Then the lineout was thrown to the middle or rear when a simple throw to the front, secure it from the ruck and put it out of play. Leadership in these situations seems to be lacking still. How many times in the past few seasons have we beaten ourselves in the final 15 ?
I must mention Jansens impact at 8. He looks really excellent and adds what we are missing at 8. Hansen it just top drawer and gives so much in attack. Dooley looked really good too apart from the yellow.
my second half analysis. Paul Boyle was incredible. Suddenly the lineout that was perfect went pear shaped. And JJ and Caolin are poor together. And that was for the duration of the game. And that's the critical issue moving forward
so I think this is the Connacht primary issue. I don't think JJ is good enough. Yes he can kick penalties. I think Caolin is the biggest whinger at the scrum and the breakdown. Solve these issues and we have a really good team
I think that Hanrahan is too cautious at penalty kickking. Maybe he would be afraid to mis-kick like Carty. So I think that Connacht should make Forde or Hawkeshaw kick from hand. Hanrahan is a good place kicker, so he should kick some gaal-kickking. As it's current situation, Connacht can not use an atacking maul, so it can not increase the numbers of try. At last, the best no.10 may be Hawkshaw because he can many things (fast and wide field (eyes) running, good passing, strong tacklings and cover defendings). It seems that's time for the decision.
Think Joyce is nailed on as captain for next season. He looks a proper leader. Himself and Jansen look to be exactly what was needed to be brought in up front.
Would like to see DTM and McElroy as the first and second choice hookers moving forward. There is the making of a strong pack there.
Too many silly mistakes and moments of madness from individuals. Not too sure how this is fixed.
It feels like there are some very OTT reactions in here. Understandable considering how frustrating the last 5 mins were, but Connacht were about 2 decisions (by players) away from beating Leinster and having a crack at a bonus point win.
JJ's penalties are a little cautious, but I'll take 10 penalties that land 15m out over 8 that land on the 5m and 2 that go dead. Connacht's attack has been generally good, so just getting possession and attacking in the 22 is a win.
The attack has been going well without Bundee and Mack. JJ has been significant in that.
Blade arsing around at the base of that scrum probably was the decider in that game, but if anyone thinks you'd have been in that position without him you're kidding yourself. He played a blinder for 75 mins. It's big costly mistake. It's one you learn from. If that happens more than once, then you worry.
The only thing I'd be concerned about from that game, that hasn't been solved on the drive home, is the lineout.
Totally agree about the distances we get from kicks out of hand - it's a problem off restarts too. Opposition teams regularly clear their lines to almost half way off our restarts, but we never seem to make it beyond about half way between the 22 and 10 meter lines of theirs. Forde seems to be tasked with taking a lot of the kicks off restarts, and it seems to me he COULD get more distance, but often gets the angle wrong and puts it into row Z of the stand. I'm sure it's something they are aware of, and working on.
Bundee is fit.
The bullet to the head was a couple of things. The clearing kicks to touch by JJ were beyond awful. It's called a clearing kick because it relieves pressure. Instead all his kicks put more pressure on Connacht.
While I was critical about a couple of decisions by Busby, I would have to say that Connacht in general did well from his calls.
So then how did we lose this game. And while some might say our lineout was rubbish. Well that's not fair. Our lineout in the first half was 100%. And then in the second half it collapsed.
But in first half and second half there was just one consistent problem. Leinster had all the possession, had all the go forward. So without a doubt they deserved to win the game. The question has to be asked as to why Connacht did not have the same.
What is wrong? But we were fairly beaten by a moderate team
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