Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

Ioane and him are the overall best duo average at 10 in Ireland next season (kick to post aside, Gilbert will kick).

Same for Prenderast/Hurley-Langton/Boyle/Jansen backrow

1st row of VanWyk/Bohan/Tierney/Heff/Illo/Bealham not far either

2nd row too thin in all account (for now)

Centre yet to be found out depends on how at least 2 of Forde/Ralston/Gavin/J.Devine climb a new step.

Hansen/Bolton/Gilbert are magnificent, slightly light behind them

SH ok even without M.Devine

I'd sign 1 last big ball carrier at 4 and we're good to go for decent Champions cup games

Connacht won't need Ioane coming season because there is Frawley and Naughton. So if possible they should put him to loan and hire 'big ball-career. About M. Devine, do you think who can (electrical and agile) Matthew in the opponent side? And where is Treacy and Jennings?

All attention to next Friday, really looking forward it with quite confidence. Reckon a 50:50 game with connacht's form and glasgow's home advantage.

Tough ask going to Glasgow but we are in bonus territory for this season, nothing to lose and no pressure on us.

Bohan, Heffernan, Illo, Murphy, Murray, prendergast, SHL, Jansen, Murphy, Ioane, Bolton, Aki, West, Jennings, Gilbert.

Victory, Dooley, Bealham, Joyce, Boyle, Devine, Naughton, Devine

Treacy is fit, too? What about DTM?

Gavin is too important with his power to be omitted again IMO

I thought that in the February game we deployed a very clever defensive game plan, that we had developed especially for that game, aided by the fact that we had four weeks to prepare.

We ensured that all of our defenders were in front of the ball at all times, i.e. we did not make any aggressive reads and attempt to make big tackles in the second line of attack like a Leinster would do. By not making any big decisions, this forced Glasgow to play in front of a full defensive line all game. They weren't really able to adapt to this new look we threw at them, and we kept them scoreless until Joyce got a yellow and they exploited the extra space out wide. It was very similar to how Italy defended against Ireland in the 6N, from what I remember.

The important thing is that while this approach is passive in terms of not trying to swim in behind the attacking line to make big shots, it was allayed with incredible physicality in the tackle.

Glasgow are a good team, and I expect them to have a plan if we do the same again, e.g. attacking the blindside, playing off 9 more, kicking more.

Yeah, regardless of what happens on Friday, the run we went on to get into the top 8 was incredible, especially given that it seemed like other results went against us most weeks. The turnaround in our defense is bordering on miraculous. Really hope we get a bit of luck with injuries now - we could do with Harry West being available, and Darragh Murray would be a bonus.

Dear heavens ShineyShiney. Bar the obvious problem that West is out for the rest of the year so John Devine will slide in nicely at 13 this is exactly the team I would pick to start and to finish. The question is who do you pick at utility back for the bench. And as today we don't have one on our books at the moment that is not injured. So I see only two options. We go for a 6-2 split or Jack is on the bench.

So we have cover for Aki, cover for Prendergast but I wonder about Bohan. And I forget Darragh Murray and we really are short in the second row

Devine into 13 for me and then probably a toss up between Gavin or Tracey for 23. I fully expect that Lancaster will go with both Naughton and Carty but I didn't like it.