Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Munster team for Saturday

Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Michael Ala’alatoa; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Seán O’Brien, Alex Kendellen.

Surprised that Crowley isn't starting as I believe he was for for this week

Great news on Moose. Do Munster normally post their team on a Thursday. I thought the norm was Friday lunchtime for teams playing games on Saturday

Was anyone listening to Billy Holland on the Last Word?

He did a preview for the match based exclusively on the presumption that Munster would win. While accepting Connacht are at home, in good form, and that he doesn't know who Connacht will field, he said both teams will be equal, and as a result Munster are in a strong position.

Solid logic.

That sort of stuff gives me a warm feeling inside. They are so rattled and inward looking now after the last few weeks. We will have the mental edge, home advantage and the better 15 and 23.

Connacht to win by 10 with a BP.

Cardiff and Ulster will lose tomorrow night as well.

I had another shite experience with the ticketing system today. However, on Saturday, everyone who ended up with a season ticket miles from where they wanted will be relieved to have secured one at all.

Connacht abú.

Paddy Power have it at 10/11 +3.

Hopefully the team and the crowd can rise to the occasion Saturday night, huge opportunity to beat Munster.

nah, we have this in the bag.

Pretty certain of 6th and we could get 5th with a bit of luck

I am reasonably confident, mainly because when Lancaster has had an extended training block, we have tended to deliver a performance. The best example of this was the Glasgow game, where we were well prepared and had a gameplan that we believed in, and didn't lose confidence in when we went behind.

I don't think Munster under McMillan are quite as well coached, but they are always a sticky team and a difficult proposition in interpros. There's a very clear edge to this fixture in recent times - I don't think there's any danger of them not being up for it, regardless of the off the pitch distractions. Hopefully the absence of Beirne and Crowley swings it in our favour.

I'd like to see us target Hanrahan hard. He's a pretty unathletic 33 year old who is going to have to play 80 mins, if we can force him to make 10+ tackles that should have an effect on his decision making and execution as the game wears on.

There could be some serious hay to be made in the scrum towards the end of the game also. If Edogbo is subbed, Munster could end up with a tight 5 of Wycherley, Barron, Bartley, Ahern, Wycherley. That's an extremely weak scrummaging unit - Wycherley Jr and Barron are small, Bartley is inexperienced at this level, and there's no proper tighthead lock. Munster try to have one of Edogbo or Kleyn on the pitch where possible, and lost the only two games this season where neither started. I can't remember the Glasgow game specifically, but I do remember their scrum being dismantled vs Stormers with Ahern and Wycherley in the second row.

Edogbo played 80 mins for the first time since his return from injury against Exeter, and played 76 after coming off the bench early vs Ulster a fortnight ago. Doing similar tomorrow could be key for Munster.

Hanrahan at 10 is a gift for us. Last year up in Castlebar we were just not at the same level we are now and Munster are a tad worse. But lets wait until the team is announced

Connacht Rugby vs Munster Rugby

Saturday 9th May, 19:45 @ Dexcom Stadium

15. Sam Gilbert (16)
14. Shane Jennings (34)
13. Harry West (11)
12. Bundee Aki (163)
11. Shayne Bolton (35)
10. Josh Ioane (29)
9. Ben Murphy (33)
1. Billy Bohan (12)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (74)
3. Sam Illo (46)
4. Darragh Murray (57)
5. Josh Murphy (59)
6. Cian Prendergast (102) (C)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (64)
8. Sean Jansen (44)

16. Eoin de Buitléar (21)
17. Peter Dooley (64)
18. Finlay Bealham (229)
19. Joe Joyce (54)
20. Paul Boyle (135)
21. Matthew Devine (31)
22. Jack Carty (234)
23. Seán Naughton (16)

Strong squad, pretty much exactly what I wanted to see apart from a couple of swaps between the starting team and the bench. I wonder did we choose to hold back some of our stronger scrummagers after seeing the Munster team.

Don't really get Naughton in the 23 shirt. I guess we might want a second goalkicker in the squad but Gavin would give us much better coverage in case of an injury at centre or wing IMO.

He's having a bit of craic, if you can't be optimistic for your team why even bother?

Why even bother when you have lads like yourself coming in here taking umbrage and giving it the 'look here boyo stay in your lane' nonsense.