Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

On the evidence of this weekend we'll do well to match last year's points tally against the other provinces.

You'd hope we improve but the other 3 look leagues ahead of us. Add in bulls, stormers, Glasgow and there's only 2 more top 8 spots on the offing for us, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Benetton, sharks and possibly lions if/when they get their act together. Will be tough but it was always going to be.

So happy Stuart is the head coach. We have one of the best. From now on its down to the players performance without any discussion about the head coach. It will take a while to get rid of some of the dead wood in the team and some of that is local players. The new local talent are exciting especially Devine, he will 100% have an Irish cap as a starter in the next few years. I suspect Stuart is giving Blade the benefit of the doubt which is fair enough but Devine is the real deal. Connacht have always been blessed wat 9. Exciting times coming

Delighted for munster, for years they were delusional are kept thinking they were top table and were dismayed when losing especially to connacht. Nice to see things might, might be levelling out between the 4 provinces some what. When I say that I mean the other 3 provinces coming up to Leinsters level not the other way around

Not sure if that was 2 points lost or 2 gained. I think we saw the challenge that this league poses fairly clearly, good teams, well organized with significant physical advantages over us. I think we did pretty well in the circumstances to come back and nearly steal it. Couple of lapses in concentration in the first half cost us dearly.

I'm looking forward to seeing Naughton start at 10.

Irish internationals not available this weekend

S***

So

1. Buckley
2. DTM
3. Aungier
4. Joyce
5. D.Murray
6. SOB
7. SHL
8. Jansen
9. Murphy
10. Ioane
11. Mullins
12. Forde
13. Gavin
14. Treacy
15. Jennings
16. Heff
17. Dooley
18. Illo
19. O'Connor
20. McCormack
21. Devine
22. Naughton
23. Ralston

Do what you and other fans want and Ireland will end up like England/Wales.

The same players provided Ireland with a 78% win record, the 2nd highest in world rugby this World Cup cycle just behind SA’s 81%…more of that please as opposed to a 60% & 6% record please!

honestly lost the will to respond to such. but your opinion matters to me so please feel free to provide more incisive details

No I don't think so.

connacht should lodge an official complaint about this!

Fair play to Farrell getting called up to the national squad, well deserved. It's just my opinion but i had the impression from talking to people at the time when he signed for Munster that we had enough centre options/combinations that he would not be missed

In fairness Tom Farrell is probably the best uncapped player in the world. I am willing for someone to pull a name to challenge that… Hope he breaks that duck, totally deserved, probably should go way earlier in his career..

Remember a Connacht v Munster day at the sportsground. Tom Farrell is doing a number on Chris Farrell (who was on Irish team at the time). Auld buck from Munster beside me, give me a nudge, "I think we bought the wrong Farrrell…"

Given the injuries/international duty is go with something like this. (I've included SHL as they are going to make a decision on availability later this week)

Dooley, Heffernan, Illo, N Murray, Joyce, Boyle, SHL*, Jansen, Divine, Ioane, Jennings, Forde, Gavin, Tracey, Naughton

DTM, Duggan, Auinger, D Murray, SOB/Murphy/McCormack*, Murphy, Carty, Hawkshaw, Ralston

*Depending on availability