Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Should that not be a penalty for taking him off the ball.

Hopefully the injury isn't as bad as it seems for JJ

Edit. They have given it now

That's a red surely?

We were so poor for a lot of that game again. Thought Boyle did well when came in for Prendergast and Joyce was very good too

That was excruciating. Connacht are not a Champion's Cup team, there's a lot of work to be done. If Carty's not ready for Munster, we'll be getting a look at Forde at 10.

Devine was excellent, Jennings good as well.

Hope JJ's injury isn't as bad as it looked.

We are looking very likely to be left regretting the late collapse against Leinster and Treviso come the end of the season it seems....

I have sneaking suspicion we'll lose out on bonus points. Can see us ulster, benneton and Edinburgh all getting one more win but I think we'll do well to pick up any more bonus points and can see each of those picking up 1 or 2 each, leaving us odd man out.

Playing Zebre twice looks like being the difference between us and Edinburgh. But games aren't played on paper so there's always hope!

Think the problem is the low amount of Forwards in general in the Academy… We only have 4…

There's two elements - the dearth in the pack and excess in the outside backs. If the talent isn't coming through, and there's no overflow from the other provinces or IQ system, there's not much can be done. We've struggled to produce homegrown backrows for as long as I can remember. Can't think of any between Sean O'Brien and Oisin McCormack, who is a first team player in name only realisitically. There's two locks under the age of 25 in the senior squad, so given playing numbers etc. it's probably not a huge surprise that there's been a gap after Darragh Murray. I expect Rory Gavin, Bryan Walsh, and Max Flynn to be pushing for academy places over the next couple of years, which should balance things out a bit. Walsh is an exciting one, has prototypical height and has just started in Corinthians' two playoff games while still in school.

On the flip side, there definitely has been some over-recruitment in the outside backs. Two in particular stand out to me - taking Daniel Hawkshaw in the same year as Devine and Gavin, and James Nicholson with three wingers already in situ. I can understand the need to move for the likes of Mullins and Treacy when available, but the above two seem like superfluous signings to me.

We'll need five points minimum to get to 49 to make the last 8. Looking at the race from 5th to 11th - Stormers will make 54pts for 5th, Ulster 51 for 6th, and Edinburgh 50 for 7th. It's likely ourselves, Benetton, and Ospreys will make 49 and on my reckoning Benetton will qualify on games won.

We can and should target double BP on last day in Dublin. yes Leinster may want to win for home final phase, BUT they will rotate one week before QF and after euro final. especially their bench will allow 2 needed tries in the last 20.

If 50 or 51 are enough i'm confident

He looks like more of a full back than an out half.

Do we need that?