Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Pretty much along expected lines with Piers moved to FB and Santi to the wing hopefully he can show a bit more of what he is about as has been quiet so far after the injury. Good to see Gavin on the bench too.

A few reasons to be optimistic IMO:

• We are at home.
• We have a major experience advantage in the front row, and may be able to eke out some penalties from the scrum.
• We have a strong defensive lineout and Leinster are way down the depth chart at hooker. Though I don't see Gus McCarthy as a weakness at all to be honest.
• Leinster's defensive system places a lot of responsibility on the wingers and Andrew Osborne is a poor defender to my mind.

That being said, it's a very strong Leinster team and we will likely need to be at our very best, along with some luck, in order to eke out a win. Can't afford any of the silly errors and concentration lapses that have marred our season so far.

Really glad we've selected Gavin as we have many other options for the 23 jersey, but have opted against a safer bet like Ralston. Hopefully he gets some decent minutes, followed by a start against Dragons.

Why there is no M.Devine at SH?

Murphy is great but he is inexperienced so I think Blade on the bench makes a more solid choice.

Exciting selection. Would liked to have seen SHL ON the bench, but other than that this is good. Cordero hasn't worked at FB, so let's hope he can improve on the wing. Hawkshaw, and then Forde from the bench, can take on kicking duties from Ioane. Good game from Bolton could mean he's a bolter for Irish squad.

Team selection is pretty much in line with folks comments. I do find it interesting how Leinster work selections. Now obviously with them having a large proportion of the Irish team decisions have to made how to best use resources. That said I find it strange they go full tilt at Benetton away and then provide a somewhat mixed team against Connacht.

Be that what it is the question still remains, how do we beat this team. So it's the usual. You defend your scrums, you defend your lineouts, you kick sensibly and kick well. You take every point you can and be happy to take it rather than gambling on crossing the line by kicking into corners when penalties are straight forward.

So that's the basics. But to win this game we pester Gibson Park. Murphy needs to torment him around the scrum for starters. Then having a perfect defensive line is not going to cut it. We need to be able to cut out of the line to disrupt Gibson Parks distribution. If we are just going to play conventional defensive line I don't think we will win. We need to understand the importance of Gibson Park and shut it down.

One change I would make to this team is have Forde at inside centre and Bundee at outside centre. It just supports the type of play we will need to win this game. Of course Bundee plays inside for Ireland but for Connacht he would be far more devastating at outside centre

Of the opposite belief. You fight by their game you lose by their rules.

Well, there's a elephant in the room nobody pointed out. Piers O'Connor, though not completely unexperienced here, played only 10 out of his 111 game as FB…

I wonder what the issues are with john porch. Is he just not this managements type or is he injured?

Hope Cordero has a good game on the wing.

Ioane is allergic to finding touch.

Restarts being a disaster? Strange, I really thought that problem would not continue for the sixth year running,

Checking out earlier than ever this year. Nearly had to turn it off when they kept showing Wilkins slap the window

I can see plenty of good stuff in attack from ioane but man is he a brutal kicker from hand or what? Unfortunately for Cordero it's not working and I'll fight with anyone who thinks we wouldn't be better off with Jennings or porch there instead.

Thought Jansen was really good when he came on, DTM also and Forde just makes things happen.

Boyle played well for most of the game but the held up over the line and the run down the wing without stepping inside was a bit of poor judgement.

How did Hugh Gavin get on at the weekend? Did he play on the wing? Don't think I have the heart to watch it back.