Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

It's really hard to predict but I think 50+ points might be required for top 8. Had a go at mapping it out but there's quite a few games that could go either way.

Bulls have the easiest fixture list and I think will pull away from this group and challenge for top 4. That leaves Cardiff, Munster, Lions, and ourselves competing for three spots, although Sharks could come into it if they win one of their away games.

Ultimately it's somewhat in our own hands. If we beat the three teams in this group we have a very strong chance, if we lose one it becomes a toss up, if we lose two we're probably done for.

Jackman mentioned Aungier going to Munster again for next season in a podcast this week so it must all be done behind the scenes.

Don't expect SHL to stay at this stage but if they could keep him and get a good lock forward in it would be fantastic. Hansen back would nearly be like a new signing at this stage.

That seems reasonable, only real difference seems to be you're more bullish on the SA teams and more down on Munster.

Sharks haven't won a league game outside of SA for almost a year so I don't back them to do much in the away games, but they always have the talent to pull it out of the bag.

Yeah I think Sharks are the real swing one. The fact they are playing Edinburgh and Ospreys away made me lean towards them, but very real chance they lose either of those and they won't be in the picture as I feel 50 points minimum will be needed.

I think with the fixtures my take on Munster is realistic to be honest. Can't see them getting anything this weekend, I would have them getting nothing at Connacht in Galway the way both are currently playing, and can see Ulster beating them (that's probably a 50/50 though). I think they have the hardest run in out of everyone with Benetton away not a gimme either. Lions at home is the game I think they will definitely win but that's the only one I would be confident in saying they will win.

I think Ospreys and Benneton might drop out of the race this week and I think Cardiff will have enough to get the job done over the last 5 games. Sharks home last 2 games against Italian sides with nothing to play for makes me think they will also get there.

That leaves a 3 way battle (Connacht, Munster & Lions) for 7th and 8th with each of us playing the other 2. Its in our own hands. Exciting league.

I have it on good authority that we tried to sign Stephen Smyth. Shame it didn't happen but glad we tried, would have been a great successor for Dave Heffernan. We have options but none with Heffernan's physicality.

Connacht Rugby vs Ospreys

Saturday 28th March, 14:15 @ Dexcom Stadium

Number/Name/Caps
15. Sean Naughton (11)
14. Shane Jennings (31)
13. Cathal Forde (67)
12. Bundee Aki (160)
11. Finn Treacy (18)
10. Josh Ioane (27)
9. Ben Murphy (30)
1. Denis Buckley (274)
2. Dave Heffernan (229)
3. Finlay Bealham (227)
4. Niall Murray (92)
5. Darragh Murray (52)
6. Josh Murphy (55)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (59)
8. Paul Boyle (130) (C)

16. Matthew Victory (4)
17. Billy Bohan (7)
18. Sam Illo (42)
19. David O’Connor (19)
20. Sean O’Brien (27)
21. Matthew Devine (27)
22. Jack Carty (231)
23. Oisín McCormack (4)

All of the players mentioned are being rested as far as I know. Good to see that replacements are by no means shabby. You would suspect that SHL will be rusty after such a long layoff but having Prendergast and Jansen missing the back line still looks solid. And the two Murrays ain't shabby in the second row.

Heffernan

Big fan of both Murrays but not sure if I'm a fan of playing them together, we've looked undersized and underpowered in the past when playing them together. Osprey aren't the best team in the league but no mugs either so we'll need to be on our game today.

We're up against it here, that's a very imbalanced fifteen on the pitch.

Ref is poor .

That last pass looked forward. If they hadn’t ruled out one try already I bet they would have had a lot closer look at that.

Strange call to kick it out at the end. You could see some players didn’t agree and not many around me in the stand did either. Really could have done with the BP given how tight it is and we were deep inside their half so far more likely to score than concede.