Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

connachta · 21-02-2020 11:05pm

macslash wrote: »

I always thought a home play off was beyond us after the interpros. But a playoff is still achievable. Huge game next week now which won't be easy in SA. Hope to Christ Finlay isn't bad. We'd need an emergency replacement I'd imagine?

I am pointing (and always thought) about the European play-off.

ClanofLams · 21-02-2020 11:12pm

Mul, it's over

BigRigsOnly wrote: »

We didn’t have 1 backs move until about the 70th minute, really frustrating game today. 3 yellow cards for us is just ridiculous discipline. Onwards & upwards anyway lads

Discipline was pretty poor last week too (3 penalties for us v 11 against us). Has been all season really. Lot of issues that have been repeating which doesn’t reflect well.

FACECUTTR · 21-02-2020 11:35pm

Poor performance. Edinburgh were more physical and beat us up. We need a TH and 2nd row jokers.

Burkie1203 · 21-02-2020 11:38pm

Mul, it's over

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Poor performance. Edinburgh were more physical and beat us up. We need a TH and 2nd row jokers.

From where exactly?

Zzippy · 21-02-2020 11:39pm

connachta wrote: »

I am pointing (and always thought) about the European play-off.

Not this sh1t again! We had enough last season, will you give it a rest?

connachta · 21-02-2020 11:56pm

Zzippy wrote: »

Not this sh1t again! We had enough last season, will you give it a rest?

This season it is 100% likely. Admit it. And it's good news

realhorrorshow · 21-02-2020 11:57pm

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Poor performance. Edinburgh were more physical and beat us up. We need a TH and 2nd row jokers.

Missed the game, who got injured?

Burkie1203 · 22-02-2020 12:13am

Mul, it's over

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Missed the game, who got injured?

Bealham. Looked bad. Leg in the brace on stretcher sucking on a green whistle

Redo91 · 22-02-2020 2:22am

You've got a Friend in me

That was grim. Went over to the game and sat in pissing rain for 80 mins. Not good enough to lose to Edinburgh missing as many as they were.

Utopia Parkway · 22-02-2020 3:32am

Just too many poor performances this season. Had some excuse with injuries before Christmas but not so much now. Usually we make hay during the 6 nations as we don’t miss too many but to get thumped by Edinburgh’s semi reserves is not good at all.

Trip to S Africa might help given how miserable it’s been at home.

KBurke85 · 22-02-2020 8:14am

The Friend Zone

Can’t get over how bad we always seem to play in wet windy conditions especially when it’s pretty much what the players train in.

macslash · 22-02-2020 11:50am

Mul, it's over

Cardiff Treviso tomorrow is a strange one. A loss will nearly rule one out while the win would being them right behind us. A draw ideal

Dubinusa · 22-02-2020 2:15pm

Some Like It TOH

Connacht need a good run in. They have had a crisis with injuries, but that's rugby! I don't know if the squad is good enough or if Friend is a poor coach?
They need to recruit for next year! That said , there is good quality in the team. They have a glut of good back rows and are deep at scrum half. The backline is fairly loaded too! I think they can put in a good run and qualify for the champions cup.

connachta · 22-02-2020 2:22pm

Dubinusa wrote: »

Connacht need a good run in. They have had a crisis with injuries, but that's rugby! I don't know if the squad is good enough or if Friend is a poor coach?
They need to recruit for next year! That said , there is good quality in the team. They have a glut of good back rows and are deep at scrum half. The backline is fairly loaded too! I think they can put in a good run and qualify for the champions cup.

Exactly:)

connachta · 22-02-2020 4:52pm

Bealham posted a pic in a boot with foot on floor.
Does it tend to indicate no surgery?

FACECUTTR · 22-02-2020 5:01pm

Burkie1203 wrote: »

From where exactly?

That's the problem. The lock issue has been going since November.

KBurke85 · 22-02-2020 5:34pm

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Bealham posted a pic in a boot with foot on floor.
Does it tend to indicate no surgery?

Not necessarily. Could be waiting for scan results swelling to go down etc

FACECUTTR · 24-02-2020 4:09pm

We should have Dillane back for the game Sunday and hopefully Thornbury too if the calf issue has cleared up. Has Rory Burke recovered ? if not we will be looking at McCoy and Kenny at TH. Any word on Tom Farrell?

testtech05 · 24-02-2020 4:20pm

Some Like It TOH

FACECUTTR wrote: »

We should have Dillane back for the game Sunday and hopefully Thornbury too if the calf issue has cleared up. Has Rory Burke recovered ? if not we will be looking at McCoy and Kenny at TH. Any word on Tom Farrell?

I'd be surprised if Ultan or Dave are allowed to be involved this week purely based on the time they would be away from the Ireland squad with the game being on in SA.

We could really do with getting Gavin back if that is the case hadnt heard any update since they mentioned he was having a scan that in itself would suggest he might be out for a few weeks. Craggy rugby had Farrell on their "longer term injuries" list on the podcast last week too.....

Burkie1203 · 25-02-2020 1:53pm

Mul, it's over

Big blow

https://twitter.com/CianTracey1/status/1232273179667845122?s=19

Boardmember101 · 25-02-2020 2:00pm

Had heard Sean O'Brien was due back mid March, but see his foot is in a protective boot at training today. Can assume his season is done. The man has no luck

freyners · 25-02-2020 3:08pm

The Friend Zone

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Big blow

https://twitter.com/CianTracey1/status/1232273179667845122?s=19

Massive blow

Robertson McCoy has come on loads and have no issues with him starting the next few months but haven't seen enough of Kenny or the others and the games wills start coming thick and fast again.

KBurke85 · 25-02-2020 4:16pm

The Friend Zone

https://www.the42.ie/finlay-bealham-5021294-Feb2020/

More info here, hopeful Finlay will be back if we make the playoffs. Heff and Dillane staying with Ireland. Murphy out this week so Tierney-Martin will be in the squad v Kings. 6 or so players due back after the Kings game

freyners · 25-02-2020 4:40pm

The Friend Zone

"Cillian Gallagher, Darragh Leader, Peter McCabe, Tom McCartney, Quinn Roux and Gavin Thornbury look likely to make their comebacks after this week’s game in South Africa."

Some good news!

MarinersBlues · 25-02-2020 4:42pm

Mul, it's over

Pos Team Current R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 R11 R13 Total
Cardiff (h) Kings (a) Cheetahs (a) Trviso (h) Ulster (a) Ospreys (h) Munster (h) Connacht (a) Glasgow (h)
1 Edinburgh 43 4 5 1 4 0 5 1 1 1 65
Scarlets(h) Treviso (a) Treviso (h) Cardiff (h) Leinster (a) Glasgow (h) Edin (a) Scarlets (a) Connacht (h)
2 Munster 40 4 5 5 4 0 4 4 5 4 75
Munster(a) Connacht (a) Dragons (h) Kings (a) Cardiff (h) Treviso (a) Leinster (a) Munster (h) Ospreys (a)
3 Scarlets 37 1 1 5 5 4 1 0 0 4 58
Kings(a) Scarlets (h) Zebre (a) Glasgow(h) Treviso (a) Ulster (h) Cardiff (a) Edin (h) Munster (a)
4 Connacht 30 5 4 5 1 1 4 1 4 1 56
Edinburgh(a) Zebre (h) Ospreys (h) Munster(a) Scarlets (a) Kings (h) Connacht (h) Leinster (a) Dragons (a)
5 Cardiff 29 1 5 5 0 1 5 4 0 4 54
Ulster(h) Munster (h) Munster (a) Edin (a) Connacht (h) Scarlets (h) Kings (a) Cheetahs (a) Zebre (h) Dragons (a)
6 Treviso 24 0 0 1 0 1 4 4 4 1 4 43

Tight battle for 3rd 4th and 5th with three games to be played beween Scarlets, Connacht and Cardiff.

Alot of it will be down to the form of Treviso after the 6 nations.

* I rushed this - so plenty of possible errors, point them out and I'll fix them.

FACECUTTR · 25-02-2020 4:53pm

So what do we think of the possible team then ?
Buckley Delahunt McCoy
Makzimew Murray/Masterson
McKeon Butler Faingaa
Marmion Carthy
Robb Godwin
Healy O'Halloran Porch
Subs: Tierney-Martin McAllister Kenny
Masterson/Copeland Boyle
Blade Fitzgerald Daly

Scottmactom · 26-02-2020 6:39am

Sounds like OIsin Dowling is headed west from Leinster Academy. 22year old Lock/Blindside who is behind younger academy players at both lock and 6.

Wegians89 · 26-02-2020 2:26pm

The Friend Zone

Scottmactom wrote: »

Sounds like OIsin Dowling is headed west from Leinster Academy. 22year old Lock/Blindside who is behind younger academy players at both lock and 6.

Is this an emergency signing for the rest of the season or for next season?

KBurke85 · 26-02-2020 3:20pm

The Friend Zone

Wegians89 wrote: »

Is this an emergency signing for the rest of the season or for next season?

On the Leinster thread there was mention of it but it's a signing for next season

Richie_Rich89 · 26-02-2020 4:15pm

Mul, it's over

Dowling would walk into the Connacht first XV at blindside. Boyle is too small slash lacking physicality for 6 and Sean O'Brien is constantly injured.

connachta · 26-02-2020 4:35pm

Good news for next week and next season.
Not so much for this week
It wasn't enough last week and we're even weaker
Kings was toe-to-toe with Cheetahs and Ulster until final quarter, I think their time has come to win sadly

We have :
3rd Choice n°4 (No Dillane/Roux)
3rd Choice n°5 (No Thornbury/Gallagher)
2nd Choice Centre Pairing (No Aki/Farrell)
3rd and 5th Choices Hookers (No Heffernan, McCartney and Murphy)
2nd/3rd Choice n°18 (No Baelham/Burke)
+ TOH/Niyi/Porch who are not nailed 1st choices with Leader/Healy/Fitzgerald who may have been prefered.

At least 9/10, LH, and back-row are ok. Will it be enough

testtech05 · 26-02-2020 5:01pm

Some Like It TOH

Richie_Rich89 wrote: »

Dowling would walk into the Connacht first XV at blindside. Boyle is too small slash lacking physicality for 6 and Sean O'Brien is constantly injured.

That's a bit of a stretch, have you seen Boyle actually playing for us over the course of this and last season he has been consistently one of our best forwards.

I think to suggest a young promising backrow with 6 professional club caps would walk straight into the team ahead of him or either of Eoghan Masterson or Eoin McKeon if they could stay fit

SOB really needs to get a bit of luck on the injury front has looked very impressive when fit.

Robbo · 26-02-2020 5:22pm

I can't believe it's not Butler

Dillane and Heff have been released from captivity in Dublin and are on their way to South Africa.

macslash · 26-02-2020 5:33pm

Mul, it's over

Robbo wrote: »

Dillane and Heff have been released from captivity in Dublin and are on their way to South Africa.

Just saw Linley tweet that. Happy days

Wegians89 · 26-02-2020 6:51pm

The Friend Zone

KBurke85 wrote: »

On the Leinster thread there was mention of it but it's a signing for next season

If it’s a signing for next season I’d see no reason for him not to come west before then. Leinster might feel they need the body for the six nations period but after that I’d like to see him come west

connachta · 26-02-2020 7:25pm

Robbo wrote: »

Dillane and Heff have been released from captivity in Dublin and are on their way to South Africa.

Now that's game in the balance!
Yeaaaaah

connachta · 26-02-2020 7:41pm

It's because of Italy game cancelation...

salmocab · 26-02-2020 8:35pm

Wegians89 wrote: »

If it’s a signing for next season I’d see no reason for him not to come west before then. Leinster might feel they need the body for the six nations period but after that I’d like to see him come west

He might have college stuff to finish.

b.gud · 26-02-2020 8:49pm

salmocab wrote: »

He might have college stuff to finish.

Plus according to Richie he's walking down to Connacht so that will probably take him a while

Zzippy · 26-02-2020 10:53pm

"Boyle is too small".

I've heard it all now!

FACECUTTR · 27-02-2020 1:24pm

Zzippy wrote: »

"Boyle is too small".

I've heard it all now!

Maybe he got confused with the town

Robbo · 27-02-2020 1:26pm

I can't believe it's not Butler

Chris O'Dowd is going to be raging.

connachta · 28-02-2020 3:26pm

Very happy with this team
Murray is finally considered too light, and we'll have both Thornbury and Roux back next week when Dillane will be with Ireland
Godwin is overplayed but no choice
Healy will make the difference
McKeon is clearly prefered to Copeland to re-sign for 2021
Heffernan and Robb will cause havoc among unexeperienced Kings bench, if we're in the game after 50 minutes

serfboard · 28-02-2020 3:30pm

connachta wrote: »

Very happy with this team

(15-9): Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Kyle Godwin, Tom Daly, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade.

(1-8): Paddy McAllister, Shane Delahunt, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Ultan Dillane, Joe Maksymiw, Paul Boyle, Colby Fainga’a, Jarrad Butler (c).

Replacements (16-23): Dave Heffernan, Denis Buckley, Conor Kenny, Eoghan Masterson, Eoin McKeon, Kieran Marmion, Conor Fitzgerald, Peter Robb.

ClanofLams · 28-02-2020 4:14pm

Mul, it's over

connachta wrote: »

Heffernan and Robb will cause havoc among unexeperienced Kings bench, if we're in the game after 50 minutes

It’s the kings. If Connacht aren’t in the game after 50 minutes, they should stay out there!

connachta · 28-02-2020 4:34pm

ClanofLams wrote: »

It’s the kings. If Connacht aren’t in the game after 50 minutes, they should stay out there!

Not that bad, ask Cheetahs and Ulster.
At least they haven't their starting outhalf. Daly then Robb should target the channel

macslash · 28-02-2020 7:36pm

Mul, it's over

How the hell is Paul Boyle playing? Sure he's tiny.

Wegians89 · 28-02-2020 7:48pm

The Friend Zone

macslash wrote: »

How the hell is Paul Boyle playing? Sure he's tiny.

Also amazing that he’s number 1 on the pro 14s tackle machine with 98% on Instagram.

Robbo · 29-02-2020 9:35am

I can't believe it's not Butler

macslash wrote: »

How the hell is Paul Boyle playing? Sure he's tiny.

connachta · 29-02-2020 2:59pm

Friend said he's looking for emergency cover at TH (10 to go including european play-off, only 2 players available)

Why wouldn't we sign Salanoa early? Furlong/Porter will be back for Leinster, I'm sure they can loan him in the end of March at worse

Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

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