Connaughton v Leinster build up thread

connachta · 07-11-2019 12:59pm

Leinster not 100% full-strenght but Connacht neither.
Without Roux/Thorbury/McAlister, it will be difficult...

Clegg · 07-11-2019 1:00pm

I've always disliked the scrolling team announcements.

Anyway here's the team in list form. Henshaw and Tomane is not a centre pairing we've seen much of. It'll be interesting to see how it goes. I'm also surprised that Doris isn't in the squad somewhere, but Ruddock also needs some minutes too. It's all a balancing act for the first European game next week

15. Hugo Keenan (9)
14. Adam Byrne (54)
13. Robbie Henshaw (37)
12. Joe Tomane (17)
11. James Lowe (33)
10. Ross Byrne (75)
9. Luke McGrath (113)
1. Cian Healy (208)
2. Rónan Kelleher (6)
3. Andrew Porter (53)
4. Devin Toner (235)
5. Scott Fardy (47) CAPTAIN
6. Josh Murphy (25)
7. Will Connors (8)
8. Max Deegan (51)

16. James Tracy (97)
17. Ed Byrne (45)
18. Michael Bent (129)
19. Ross Molony (87)
20. Rhys Ruddock (161)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (75)
22. Ciarán Frawley (15)
23. Rob Kearney (210)

errlloyd · 07-11-2019 1:04pm

Clegg wrote: »

I've always disliked the scrolling team announcements.

Anyway here's the team in list form. Henshaw and Tomane is not a centre pairing we've seen much of. It'll be interesting to see how it goes. I'm also surprised that Doris isn't in the squad somewhere, but Ruddock also needs some minutes too.

Doris, Penny, Porridge, Murphy and Deegan are locked in some battle.

b.gud · 07-11-2019 1:09pm

Am I right in saying this is Henshaws first time playing against Connacht since he went to Leinster?

errlloyd · 07-11-2019 1:11pm

According to his Leinster profile yes

Clegg · 07-11-2019 1:15pm

It's an extremely strong Leinster front 5. Think we have the beating of Connacht there.

07-11-2019 1:19pm

Interesting that Kelleher is starting at hooker again in a fairly strong side. Think he's going to move up the order very quickly, looks like an excellent player.

EachSmallChime · 07-11-2019 1:23pm

I don't remember Connacht ever having a bench this good!

connachta · 07-11-2019 1:27pm

Worriness :

- Macksymiw having conceeded 3 pens on his own last week, has to keep his discipline
- Farrell defence out Henshaw/Tomane
- Healy and Porsh would have had my preference over S.Fitzgerald, but it's 51/49 indeed
- no Dillane, but Fardy

Confidance :

- Farrell attacking game vs Henshaw/Tomane, not used to defend in those positions
- Burke has to handle Bent and not Furlong, he should
- Boyle wanting to impress as an ex-Leinsterman
- Our bench is stronger (Carty+Aki+Godwin will cause havoc against tired legs)
- Leader big boot, useful in these games!

Decisive 50/50

- Gallagher/SOB will do the job in 2nd row IMO, even if it's optimism
- Fainga'a to counter Ruddock impact from the bench
- Buckley vs Porter, hell of a massive fight to gain/neutralize scrums
- Adeolakun vs A.Byrne, who's the fastest, who's the closest to Irish squad for 6 nations

Zzippy · 07-11-2019 1:28pm

Clegg wrote: »

It's an extremely strong Leinster front 5. Think we have the beating of Connacht there.

Yeah we're struggling with injury at second row so ye should have set piece dominance, fancy our backrow to get on top of Leinster's though. Surprised to see Healy back, he played a fair bit in Japan.

07-11-2019 1:28pm

Mabel Petite Carrot wrote: »

Interesting that Kelleher is starting at hooker again in a fairly strong side. Think he's going to move up the order very quickly, looks like an excellent player.

I think at most he's second to Cronin but given Cronin's age he may well be first choice this season.

He looks the part anyway, been impressed with all aspects of his play and keen to see how he fares away against a top table team and in Europe.

Clegg · 07-11-2019 1:40pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I think at most he's second to Cronin but given Cronin's age he may well be first choice this season.

He looks the part anyway, been impressed with all aspects of his play and keen to see how he fares away against a top table team and in Europe.

With Cronin's injury we're about to see what the pecking order at hooker is. For me, Kelleher already looks the match of Byrne and Tracy whlst being significantly younger that both. I'd have no problem with him starting in Europe.

connachta · 07-11-2019 1:42pm

No rain expected, should advantage Connacht a bit, less impact for 2nd row, better impact for backs

Clegg · 07-11-2019 1:47pm

connachta wrote: »

No rain expected, should advantage Connacht a bit, less impact for 2nd row, better impact for backs

A dry surface would also be of huge benefit to mobile forwards Which Leinster have in abundance

07-11-2019 1:49pm

I see Tiernan didn't make the Connacht 23 so with Kearney on the bench Leinster comfortably win battle of the dreamboats.

Not sure how much the match really matters at this point.

sydthebeat · 07-11-2019 1:56pm

bookies have leinster -5 , which i think is about right.

connachts backs wont get much room for profit if their tight five cant get parity.... or their set piece is under pressure.

however its in the sportsground, connacht have always been game raisers against us, and id imagine their conference will be tighter than ours so points are more valuable to them.... so id also have it at 50 / 50 and it come come down to a ref decision or a harsh card.

KBurke85 · 07-11-2019 1:56pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I see Tiernan didn't make the Connacht 23 so with Kearney on the bench Leinster comfortably win battle of the dreamboats.

Not sure how much the match really matters at this point.

Hard to make the 23 when you're out injured. He really has learned from the best:D

Robbo · 07-11-2019 1:57pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I see Tiernan didn't make the Connacht 23 so with Kearney on the bench Leinster comfortably win battle of the dreamboats.

Not sure how much the match really matters at this point.

It would have been quite the recovery from his recent surgery if he had lined out against Sunbed Rob.

Clegg · 07-11-2019 2:08pm

Timed his surgery so he didn't have to face embarrassment by Lowe again.

connachta · 07-11-2019 2:14pm

Clegg wrote: »

A dry surface would also be of huge benefit to mobile forwards Which Leinster have in abundance

I can agree Healy and Fardy for example are on the paper above Buckley and Gallagher overall. But clearly not about mobility
With the possible exception of Macksymiw, every Connacht forward are not powerful and very mobile

-Buckley is reputed for turnovers, Bealham is versatile TH as Porter, so runs a lot, McCartney was absolutely amazing vs Dragons
-SOB and Gallagher are 5/6 locks, so not static

- Butler Masterson and Boyle are everywhere since 5 games
- Fainga'a runs faster than some centres

07-11-2019 2:14pm

KBurke85 wrote: »

Hard to make the 23 when you're out injured. He really has learned from the best:D

Robbo wrote: »

It would have been quite the recovery from his recent surgery if he had lined out against Sunbed Rob.

I'm sorry lads but the state of the pair of ye bringing facts into a build up thread.

Tiernan is out injured because he is having surgery to make him look more like Rob.

First post surgical images leaked and he seems to be about half way there:

?width=630&version=4755486

connachta · 07-11-2019 2:16pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm sorry lads but the state of the pair of ye bringing facts into a build up thread.

Tiernan is out injured because he is having surgery to make him look more like Rob.

First post surgical images leaked and he seems to be about half way there:

Oh, no, he lost just about half of his speed, when he should have lost 2/3...

07-11-2019 2:20pm

connachta wrote: »

Oh, no, he lost just about half of his speed, when he should have lost 2/3...

Sorry Connachta but once again you have entirely missed the point.

We aren't talking about speed, this is purely a conversation around dreamboatedness.

And please don't try and bring Muldoon into this again, it got genuinely weird last time.

07-11-2019 2:20pm

Clegg wrote: »

With Cronin's injury we're about to see what the pecking order at hooker is. For me, Kelleher already looks the match of Byrne and Tracy whlst being significantly younger that both. I'd have no problem with him starting in Europe.

In before "he's not ready".

How long is Cronin out for? Thought he was going to miss some games in Europe?

connachta · 07-11-2019 2:26pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Sorry Connachta but once again you have entirely missed the point.

We aren't talking about speed, this is purely a conversation around dreamboatedness.

And please don't try and bring Muldoon into this again, it got genuinely weird last time.

07-11-2019 2:40pm

God Leinster fans really are the worst

Podge_irl · 07-11-2019 2:42pm

We're Number 1! We're Number 1!

Zzippy · 07-11-2019 2:45pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I see Tiernan didn't make the Connacht 23 so with Kearney on the bench Leinster comfortably win battle of the dreamboats.

Not sure how much the match really matters at this point.

Living up to the reputation Venjur. Ladyboys... only reason ye signed Kelleher back.

Dave_The_Sheep · 07-11-2019 4:02pm

Deleted User wrote: »

God Leinster fans really are the worst

Wegians89 · 07-11-2019 4:03pm

Tight five for Connacht really need to be perfect for this game. Delighted Gallagher will be tested at this level, he was there or there about a with James Ryan at u20 level but has been plagued with injuries since. Don’t expect him to go as far as Ryan but he can become a brilliant player in his own right if fit.

Hope Connacht pack can give some platform to the backs because I think carty - Robb- Farrell could really do some real damage to a Leinster back line that I don’t think have defended too much together.

Dubinusa · 07-11-2019 5:22pm

Interesting selections. Love the Leinster back row. Should be a fantastic match.

Robbo · 07-11-2019 5:51pm

Heard a rumour that due to the ongoing second row injury crisis there's one well groomed man doing lineout drills in Eyre Square, waiting for the call...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6VRs9ZN-A0

07-11-2019 6:08pm

Robbo wrote: »

Heard a rumour that due to the ongoing second row injury crisis there's one well groomed man doing lineout drills in Eyre Square, waiting for the call...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6VRs9ZN-A0

Is that Andrew Conway guiding him to the try line?

Shefwedfan · 07-11-2019 6:25pm

connachta wrote: »

I can agree Healy and Fardy for example are on the paper above Buckley and Gallagher overall. But clearly not about mobility
With the possible exception of Macksymiw, every Connacht forward are not powerful and very mobile

-Buckley is reputed for turnovers, Bealham is versatile TH as Porter, so runs a lot, McCartney was absolutely amazing vs Dragons
-SOB and Gallagher are 5/6 locks, so not static

- Butler Masterson and Boyle are everywhere since 5 games
- Fainga'a runs faster than some centres

:P:P

but really

:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P

Absolutely amazing v Dragons just says it all!!!

Clegg · 07-11-2019 9:23pm

Member when Ringrose embarrassed the entire province of Connacht?

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1192537455108534273?s=19

Wegians89 · 07-11-2019 9:32pm

Clegg wrote: »

Member when Ringrose embarrassed the entire province of Connacht?

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1192537455108534273?s=19

Tom Farrell will do worse to Leinster tomorrow night, just you wait for the true heir to the Irish 13 jersey emerges to the world

Squidgy Black · 07-11-2019 9:38pm

Wegians89 wrote: »

Tom Farrell will do worse to Leinster tomorrow night, just you wait for the true heir to the Irish 13 jersey emerges to the world

We've been listening to connachta repeat the same line for nearly 3 years now yet the closest he's come to an Ireland place is holding tackle bags for Ringrose in a training session

07-11-2019 9:39pm

Clegg wrote: »

Member when Ringrose embarrassed the entire province of Connacht?

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/1192537455108534273?s=19

I doubted the sincerity of your post so I called my Uncle who lives in Claremorris and asked if he remembered feeling embarrassed sometime around October last year.

He specifically referenced Ringrose's try and suggested that it was a province wide humiliation from which quite a few have not yet recovered.

So apologies - I was wrong, Ringrose really did embarrass all of Connacht. Massive.

Wegians89 · 07-11-2019 9:48pm

Squidgy Black wrote: »

We've been listening to connachta repeat the same line for nearly 3 years now yet the closest he's come to an Ireland place is holding tackle bags for Ringrose in a training session

Yes but now his long lost uncle Andy is in charge

Shefwedfan · 07-11-2019 9:48pm

Wegians89 wrote: »

Tom Farrell will do worse to Leinster tomorrow night, just you wait for the true heir to the Irish 13 jersey emerges to the world

Hopefully, any player no matter what provinces who is better than Ringrose would be a huge addition to Ireland

BakeMeACake · 07-11-2019 9:55pm

Wegians89 wrote:

Tom Farrell will do worse to Leinster tomorrow night, just you wait for the true heir to the Irish 13 jersey emerges to the world

I'm not sure I agree with you Wegians89. First up modern rugby is a 23 man game so one player is irrelevant.

That said I think carty will have a huge part to play. If you look at the Irish, the ball goes backwards all the time. There is no forward inventiveness. This is why I think carty will open up Leinster which Byrne simply does not have the ability to do in return. Cartys ability was wasted under Joe Schmidt's regiment.

There are obvious weaknesses in this Connacht selection. My belief is that if Caolin doesn't feic around with slow distribution, which he does from time to time, I think Connacht should win.

I think how Caolin approaches the game is crucial. There is no time for cribbing. We need fast distribution.

ClanofLams · 07-11-2019 9:59pm

Shefwedfan wrote: »

:P:P

but really

:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P

Absolutely amazing v Dragons just says it all!!!

Weren’t you suggesting last week Dave Kearney should be in Irish contention on the back of a Leinster hammering to dragons at home?

Bazzo · 08-11-2019 1:00am

Why post one off missed tackles like a chump when there's a clip where the entire opposing team gets humiliated?

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1192389643578335233?s=09

Thegalwayman · 08-11-2019 1:11am

Which is the better pub to watch the match these days OConnells or Rabittes?

MarinersBlues · 08-11-2019 8:27am

Bazzo wrote: »

Why post one off missed tackles like a chump when there's a clip where the entire opposing team gets humiliated?

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1192389643578335233?s=09

Delahunt with the rip.
Delahunt with the ridiculous offload.
Delahunt with the punch to the air - turning around and walking back to Connachts half with Niyi touching the ball down in the background - ala Bruce Willis with an exploding car or some such.

Be still my beating heart!

Shefwedfan · 08-11-2019 8:46am

ClanofLams wrote: »

Weren’t you suggesting last week Dave Kearney should be in Irish contention on the back of a Leinster hammering to dragons at home?

Are people not able to read?

As per the comment I said based on preseason games and pro 14 so far this season.....

Is it so difficult to understand? Please please tell me? Are you actual unable to understand that simple statement?

molloyjh · 08-11-2019 8:59am

The build up thread is meant to be a bit of craic lads. I think we've all had enough of this little spat at this stage. It's all over numerous threads now. Get a room or move on please.

08-11-2019 9:01am

molloyjh wrote: »

The build up thread is meant to be a bit of craic lads. I think we've all had enough of this little spat at this stage. It's all over numerous threads now. Get a room or move on please.

**** you Molloy.

**** you right in the ***

08-11-2019 9:04am

Shefwedfan wrote: »

It basic English

Chortle

molloyjh · 08-11-2019 9:20am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

**** you Molloy.

**** you right in the ***

No means no Venjur.

Connaughton v Leinster build up thread

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