Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

It's certainly not the main issue here but submitting a video of yourself committing the crime to the police is certainly one strategy to take in a case like this. Not a very good one, but a strategy all the same. Would imagine it could have been difficult to prove guilt without the video.

Him getting a central contract extension is great for us. It would be hard for Connacht to justify paying his salary based on his on-pitch output for us, but a contract stand-off similar to the ones Munster have had over O'Mahony and Murray could have been disastrous for us. Bundee is probably worth the 30% contribution we'll pay just based on his cultural contribution to the province alone.

If he goes on the Lions tour I think he'll play very little for us over the next year, so I wouldn't be worried about gametime for the others. Just need one of them to nail down the 13 jersey full time.

I loved Tom Farrell but I think with Hawkshaw, Forde and Gavin, as well as O' Connor coming in and Bundee playing the bigger games, something had to give there. Not a great sign of Munster imo that a player who wasn't alwasy nailed on for us is such a big player for them immediately. Not meant as a critcism of Tom, he is an all time favourite of mine, especially considering we took a flier on him frmo Bedford I think it was at a time where we could hardly field a team due to injury. But I can see the logic in letting him go

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS LEINSTER RUGBY 
17:30, Saturday 21st December 2024 @ Aviva Stadium  

Number/Name/Caps 

15. Piers O’Conor (7)
14. Mack Hansen (36)
13. Cathal Forde (40)
12. Bundee Aki (142)
11. Shane Jennings (17)
10. Josh Ioane (5)
9. Ben Murphy (7)
1. Denis Buckley (256)
2. Dave Heffernan (206)
3. Finlay Bealham (209)
4. Josh Murphy (24)
5. Darragh Murray (31)
6. Cian Prendergast (75) (C)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (45)
8. Paul Boyle (101) 

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (44)
17. Jordan Duggan (52)
18. Jack Aungier (73)
19. Oisín Dowling (65)
20. Sean Jansen (12)
21. Caolin Blade (200)
22. Santiago Cordero (11)
23. Conor Oliver (90)

https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/team-announcement-leinster-v-connacht/bp3240/

Interesting selections. Leinster are sometimes given to arrogance in selection for this fixture, although clearly they have a very deep panel. From memory 10 or 11 of tomorrow's Leinster 23 played in the A fixture at Creggs a few weeks ago, against 3 (I think) of our 23. If Jack was starting tomorrow I would give us a really strong chance

Carty completely dropped and Ioane playing is a surprise. Looks like we're planning to run at Leinster. Bold game plan; let's hope it works!!

I don't understand the Carty omission, but looking forward to seeing how the team goes - I'll be heading to the game, so hoping for a good showing.

This is going to be one of those days when a 3rd string Leinster hammer is out the gate to show us exactly how far ahead they are isn't it 😞

Its funny but I feel that also. So many years of going fully loaded vs a secondary Leinster team and coming away with nothing.

It makes you wonder if your team is simply ordinary or your coaching is poor. And when I look at the Connacht selected team I wouldn't change one of the selected 23.

So I am hopeful that finally we have this right

Tom Farrell. Epic for Connacht and now for Munster

Great performance from Tom tonight again having a great season for them.

Considering Munster had the extra man for 40+ mins they were blessed to win it at the end

We gave him away and that's an indictment of the coaching team. But even though I hate the idea of him at Munster, I am delighted that it's worked out for him.

correct

The Leinster selection is about as favourable as could be for a game in Dublin, but still struggling to feel overly optimistic.

Leinster's rigid adherence to their defensive system could be their undoing. It places great responsibility on the outside backs to make reads, but I'm not convinced Leinster have the personnel to do so today. Tector in the key 13 jersey has never played the position before as far as I'm aware, and both wingers are very raw.

That said, I think intelligent attacking kicks are the most reliable method of exploiting any potential defensive weaknesses, and thus am disappointed Carty hasn't been selected.

I'd nearly feel comfortable calling us as favourites if it weren't for the presence of Snyman and Barrett.

Obviously I am biased but feels like we are getting a very harsh run from Busby so far