Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Frustrating team Connacht. Concede ground far too easily in key areas.

Played 3 lost 3 and points difference-69 (nice) by my reckoning

If people thought we were outclassed they need to have a look at the munster game, been hanging on by their fingertips and doing well to be within 7.

As others have said we were decent in parts, including defence where we looked very committed but if you give almost any opposition that much ball they're going to score.

Some good shifts from Mcelroy, Jansen and particularly Bolton, the late changes to the front row didn't help but thought we did better than the penalty count would suggest in the scrum.

Know we won't see it as he's a connacht player but Bolton brings something on the wing that not not many do and deserves to be in with a shout of a call up.

Edit: and just like that Munster draw level, really good effort to be level as they've been second best here.

Bolton won't get a call up because he has played less than 10 professional games, not because he's a Connacht player. For what it's worth I think he's very much Farrell's type and is very likely to be on his radar.

More disappointed in the connacht result after the munster game as they did what we couldn't by sticking in there when toulon were on top and keeping the score down then taking their chances when they came.

Pack selection seems reasonably consistent with a fairly clear idea of a pecking order. Backs on the other hand looks like it's been picked from a hat each week.

I also think our attack is seriously inadequate.

Big games coming after Bristol.

I'm saying consistent selection based on performance. Where the performance of the player is sub par then when you have a game like the Bristol game it is time to try something new. I don't see any benefit of us taking 5th position in the table and going into the challenge cup without at least having learnt something new.

There are things to be learnt but then why would you start Jennings outside the full back position where he has shown huge potential and where we have a current vacancy (JJ is certainly not the answer) and where Hawkshaw has not had any relevant game time.

And why is that Tom Farrell seems to be replaced at the earliest possible moment at centre. Did things improve when Hawkshaw replaced him. Absolutely not. In fact it went downhill after Tom being replaced. It's these type of crazy decisions that are killing this team.

And it's so clear that Jack is simply not performing. So to replace him with Cathal Forde is hardly going to undermine the team and could potentially provide the exact opposite.

As for the pack, well the question has to be asked as to how it completely fell apart in the first half. As I had said Dave Heff had played well against Munster only to be dropped from the 23. And Denis was left on the bench when he should have started. And then Darragh Murray in second row with Niall dropped. And Butler is just not cutting it in the back row but gets selected.

You put all these selection decisions together and honestly what do you expect.

Thankfully we decided to go to Lyon for the pastries and the tour of the city as well as the game. The game turned out as expected but Lyon has exceeded expectations. Lovely town, nice people, totally relaxed and a great place to spend a week. Not sure about French wine. It's a bit too fruity for my taste. That's my only negative

He has seemed to fall out of favour with the current ticket. He had the most lineout steals by a distance last season in the URC and was a consistently performing well. His brother is a big unit and is possibly doing well in training. Joyce is a good player and has had some excellent performances this season. Dowling has really upped a gear in the last year too and can rotate into the backrow if needed. Lots of competition now and with Thornbury back it will get more difficult. Great complaint to have really.

But honestly this has gone too far. Wilkins is a waste of space. To say he was disappointed after selecting a crap selection and then losing the game is just rich. It breaks the hearts of the fans and of the team. And let there be no doubt that the team know the best 23

Bordeaux absolutely battered Saracens there.