Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Trying to think the last time we were this bad....... can't.

Nothing is right, no one is doing anything. This could be anything at this point.

This is really shocking. Getting absolutely hammered by the Dragons.

Worst Connacht performance I’ve ever seen. Seen them get destroyed before but usually by top class sides like Bordeaux. Not the Dragons.

Gilbert looked decent with the boot, one horrible off load in the middle of the park led to a dragons try but in fairness he looks like he might be good when he gets a few teammates on the same wave length.

I was concerned when I saw our team selection. I would always go heavy away in Wales and expected to see almost any second row pairing except the two Murrays. Always going to be a scrap, you need the power you'd get from Joyce, Murphy, Doc and SHL.

Prendergast has some engine on him, and in reference to earlier posts about him he does struggle at the contact line, a bit like pom did. But hes playing the game being asked of him and trying to make up for our lack of punch in others.

Bundi has lost a little power and pace, needs a slight adjustment to how he plays. Offers us so much in terms of rugby IQ but has to adapt. Not sure how to get him and Forde in the side.

A night that won't be forgotten for a very long time.

Out of internet, how will Lancaster make the Connacht academy Leinster good?

In fairness I thought the Dragons were excellent last night. Really aggressive in all aspects and didn't take the foot off the pedal at any stage.

They started with a game plan, it worked and we were not able to react. With Ioane and Bundee playing we had no kicking from hand options which meant their blitz defence had us under serious pressure. The fact this wasn't anticipated or rectified is a failure of management. We absolutely have the squad to match all bar two teams in the URC. There are serious coaching issues, particularly in defence. We still have issues at out half but everywhere else we are loaded with options.

It is absolutely not all down to Lancaster and he is still entitled to a free ride for the time being, but if there isn't a significant improvement by 6 nations time I would start asking questions.

I haven't heard much chat about 'Stusdays' training sessions. Is he still doing that kind of match fitness training?

I think leinster was a very fit team which helped them do everything a bit more precisely. Maybe it will take time to improve the fitness and sharpness. Difficult improve fitness and play matches at peak level. There's bound to be a period where they're more tired than normal.

So I wonder if Connacht are in for a brutal pre-season next year and then we'll see things cone together?

Turned over to the Arsenal game at HT and I don't even follow football, the connacht game was that bad. Funny thing is I reckon connacht will beat ulster next week, no consistency. Just writing this season off as a reset for Stuart. Reckon the whole culture in Connacht up until now is cozy with a handful of good players dragging results out for the group. Stuart is a top class coach with bargain basement players, will take a while to work his magic.

Connacht just looked to me as though they had come to play their game and trust their process but without enough fire and aggression and when things went wrong like the missed penalty to touch they completely went into their shells. Fair play to the Dragons once they got a sniff they were ruthless and showed all the physicality that Connacht lacked. I think it was just a night where everything that could go wrong, did. I really hope they can find a way to lift themselves for next few weeks fixtures as it was the worse possible time of the season to have such an implosion.

Agreed. We can't go with the two Murrays in the row ever again. Not enough beef. Limited as he is skill-wise we may need to play Joyce there or Josh Murphy. We were too late bringing on Jansen yesterday for Boyle who struggled, and we are very short now at loose head. Duggan struggles and Bucks doesn't have it anymore.