Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Liam McNamee involved after playing for Spain in the u20 RWC.

Nice Connacht side, but the lock options look very callow compared to Ulster's options there (Charlie Irvine and Joe Hopes starting, with Matthew Dalton at 6).

I don't know anything about Oisin McNicholas, and only know of Liam McNamee because of the Spain link. I have heard Leo Anic is very highly rated, but he's pretty young here.

Would be keen to see Cian Brady off the bench (alongside the obvious talents of Sean Walsh & Daniel Ryan), he looked good at underage I thought. Connacht are bringing through some good young options at centre.

Close range try for Oisin M Nicholas after an extended period of pressure in the Ulster 22. 7-7.

Finn Treacy finishes a lovely try, Connacht's midfield has been excellent. 14-12 to the hosts.

Another Dalton try, 28-12. Our defence is awful, Ulster look like scoring every time they get the ball.

Niche comment here but as someone who uses the Connacht website all too much, their new one is beautiful.
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/

Any forwards impress?

Cian Prendergast was the most impressive player in defeated Ireland. If possible (probably No), I hope to watch him at Dexcom.

Every Irish player made a mistake yesterday. Some very established players made severe mistakes.

Cian did well. He’s abrasive with a high work rate. He will be better for these games.

We all have our player bias! Let Kita enjoy his eh!

Those drops were unfortunate but to be fair to him I don't think he would have much if any experience as part of that lifting pod, as we wouldn't be expecting to lose both Ryan and Baird. It's a minor detail that can be ironed out, more importantly he showed that he can have a positive impact at the highest level and I think finally made the step up to legitimate test match option after a couple of years in and around the squad.

He's clearly won Farrell's trust, as he could easily have picked Henderson or brought Conan on instead.

no he wasn't, what game were you watching?

The restart was a poor mistake but he won a massive turnover penalty not long after when the Boks smelt blood. Himself and McCarthy spared our blushes a couple of times off the bench.

Perhaps, for the longevity of his career, a long layoff is exactly what is needed. It seems that this injury is 2 years old, since NZ in Paris. If he can come back fully recovered I have no problem waiting until next season. I especially hope he is not put back into the 6N unnecessarily