Connacht Rugby Thread - Part III - The Violence of the Lams

typhoony · 28-11-2015 2:46pm

thanks for the answers guys and flouncer you were just being a knob

lets hope it was the lesser but it doesnt look good either way

ClanofLams · 28-11-2015 3:12pm

Heading for Limerick in a few. Weather bit of a dampener but hopefully conditions aren't too wild. Optimistic enough, munster are essentially playing three no.8s in the backrow, would be very disappointed to come away without a bonus point at least.

Marmion MotM and Connacht win by 2.

Bazzo · 28-11-2015 7:37pm

Anybody noticed Marmion's box kicking? I think we can stop calling it a weakness.

aimee1 · 28-11-2015 7:43pm

Bazzo wrote: »

Anybody noticed Marmion's box kicking? I think we can stop calling it a weakness.

defo an area thats improved

Marc O Polo · 28-11-2015 8:15pm

HOLY F**K!! Was sure we were going to lose that!! What a grind out performance!!

Bazzo · 28-11-2015 8:17pm

Unreal. Great match and well done to the lads.

Hagz · 28-11-2015 8:21pm

I think it's pretty realistic to expect to be in the Rugby Champions Cup now really. I can't fathom how Connacht can drop the ball at this stage. 14 games left and they won't even need to win half of those to qualify I'd say. Just hope Henshaw decides to stay. Wins like that will certainly help in that regard.

connachta · 28-11-2015 8:24pm

Flouncer I owe you an apologie, you were right all along, feeling the momentum, the team, the talent.
You're our new forum Captain

thomond2006 · 28-11-2015 8:26pm

Since the Italian teams were introduced to the league, the following have been the points earned by the 6th placed team, starting with the most recent season: 57, 55, 54, 56, 60.

Connacht have 32 points with 14 matches remaining, so 7 wins (ignoring BPs) should be (more than) enough to qualify for Europe. Looking at their schedule Connacht have already played many 'banker win' matches like Italians x 2 and Dragons at home, but surely 6th is very achievable now. The 4 remaining Challenge Cup weekends will allow for squad rotation.

Bazzo · 28-11-2015 8:33pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Since the Italian teams were introduced to the league, the following have been the points earned by the 6th placed team, starting with the most recent season: 57, 55, 54, 56, 60.

Connacht have 32 points with 14 matches remaining, so 7 wins (ignoring BPs) should be (more than) enough to qualify for Europe. Looking at their schedule Connacht have already played many 'banker win' matches like Italians x 2 and Dragons at home, but surely 6th is very achievable now. The 4 remaining Challenge Cup weekends will allow for squad rotation.

There've been some big points picked up too though. 2 points away to Glasgow, win away to Ospreys and now a win away to Munster.

d-gal · 28-11-2015 8:34pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Since the Italian teams were introduced to the league, the following have been the points earned by the 6th placed team, starting with the most recent season: 57, 55, 54, 56, 60.

Connacht have 32 points with 14 matches remaining, so 7 wins (ignoring BPs) should be (more than) enough to qualify for Europe. Looking at their schedule Connacht have already played many 'banker win' matches like Italians x 2 and Dragons at home, but surely 6th is very achievable now. The 4 remaining Challenge Cup weekends will allow for squad rotation.

We are also 9 points ahead of Ulster and play them on the 26th at home. Beat them and they are gonna find it very hard to ping us back

Diabhal Beag · 28-11-2015 10:13pm

I knew when the flounce turned the corner that this would be a major season for Connacht. Full credit to him imo.

S12b · 28-11-2015 10:30pm

Thought Craig Ronaldson was brilliant tonight. Picking our first choice backline is getting tough, especially with Poolman coming back. Stick with the current midfield and Robbie at 15 and 2 of Healy, Poolman, TOH on the wing? Personally, I'd love to see Ronaldson at 10, Aki/Henshaw midfield and TOH at 15.

connachta · 28-11-2015 10:39pm

Guys you know what? we've beaten Munster away!!!!!!!!:D
COOOOOOOOOO-NNAAAAAAAACHT

We must repeat it again and again!

connachta · 28-11-2015 10:41pm

S12b wrote: »

Thought Craig Ronaldson was brilliant tonight. Picking our first choice backline is getting tough, especially with Poolman coming back. Stick with the current midfield and Robbie at 15 and 2 of Healy, Poolman, TOH on the wing? Personally, I'd love to see Ronaldson at 10, Aki/Henshaw midfield and TOH at 15.

And Leader not far from the Irish squad

wp_rathead · 28-11-2015 11:09pm

Shelflife wrote: »

If we get screwed over by a TMO decision, I will find you and I will kill you !!!

...Bloody TMOs

gally74 · 28-11-2015 11:33pm

The ref looked for 3 replays for tiernans try.... Why oh why if someone had even looked at a Munster player I feel he would have disallowed it

its_phil · 28-11-2015 11:35pm

d-gal wrote: »

We are also 9 points ahead of Ulster and play them on the 26th at home. Beat them and they are gonna find it very hard to ping us back

Said the same about Edinburgh last Christmas and it was only a cock up in Zebre that saved us IIRC.

Hagz · 28-11-2015 11:48pm

gally74 wrote: »

The ref looked for 3 replays for tiernans try.... Why oh why if someone had even looked at a Munster player I feel he would have disallowed it

He was shown three different angles. He came to the correct decision, so what exactly is your complaint?

BrokenMan · 29-11-2015 12:04am

Interesting to see Aly took over captaincy when Mul was in the bin.

RogerThis · 29-11-2015 12:21am

Wowwe wow we wow!!!!

What a game from Connacht, a real 'coming of age' game.
I thought that Munster would have too much for us, after getting a weeks rest. Couldn't be more prouder of the boys.

Beating Munster two games in a row, have we ever done that before? Undefeated in 2015.

Glasgow came from the bottom of the league to winning it in a few years, why can't Connacht.

We should be aiming for a top 4 finish.

flouncer · 29-11-2015 12:27am

How can I be more delighted with life, the universe and just about everything. Did you look at that scrum. It was such a joy. Its nice to be right but Shane is a total animal. Buckley, delahunt, white. What a joy to watch such a steady scrum. You didn't believe me. It was fantastic.

29-11-2015 12:31am

ye lads are a bit touched.

flouncer · 29-11-2015 12:34am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

ye lads are a bit touched.

Nobody would object if you suggested the flounce is touched :-)

fatgav · 29-11-2015 12:41am

Got a bit of flack from a Munster supporting mate for saying this, but IMO tonight was bigger and better than the win in Toulouse (and I'm happy to say I was at both).

Toulouse was a giant-killing David over Goliath win and the subsequent games in the Heineken Cup that year demonstrated that.

Tonight was a game where our cards were marked going in, and one where we were fully-deserving of the win and overcame plenty, in terms of the TMO/yellow card decision and injuries coming into the game too. And that's before you talk about the significance of winning in Thomond and putting 13 years without an away inter-pro win behind us.

We also have to be optimistic now that this tangible improvement will be reflected in the league table in May. A massive, massive night. Thrilled doesn't cover it.

flouncer · 29-11-2015 12:51am

fatgav wrote: »

Got a bit of flack from a Munster supporting mate for saying this, but IMO tonight was bigger and better than the win in Toulouse (and I'm happy to say I was at both).

Toulouse was a giant-killing David over Goliath win and the subsequent games in the Heineken Cup that year demonstrated that.

Tonight was a game where our cards were marked going in, and one where we were fully-deserving of the win and overcame plenty, in terms of the TMO/yellow card decision and injuries coming into the game too. And that's before you talk about the significance of winning in Thomond and putting 13 years without an away inter-pro win behind us.

We also have to be optimistic now that this tangible improvement will be reflected in the league table in May. A massive, massive night. Thrilled doesn't cover it.

It was a decent game of rugby. Every minute the commentary suggested Connacht are exciting and Munster are not.keatley ain't great. That's a start. Anyway life all good in the west

b.gud · 29-11-2015 12:53am

thomond2006 wrote: »

Since the Italian teams were introduced to the league, the following have been the points earned by the 6th placed team, starting with the most recent season: 57, 55, 54, 56, 60.

Connacht have 32 points with 14 matches remaining, so 7 wins (ignoring BPs) should be (more than) enough to qualify for Europe. Looking at their schedule Connacht have already played many 'banker win' matches like Italians x 2 and Dragons at home, but surely 6th is very achievable now. The 4 remaining Challenge Cup weekends will allow for squad rotation.

This isn't a dig at you Thomond because I know you're not putting us down and you didn't bring it up but...

I don't want to hear anyone talking about we should have 6th place sorted. We should be focusing on staying at the top of the table and making the play offs. If any of the other Irish teams were at the top of the table now they wouldnt be talking about "ok we should have 6th place secured now" they would be talking about winning the league and so should we. We showed tonight that we're not the poor cousin anymore. We've always been able to pull off wins at home but now we're starting to win away as well. We can definitely finish in the top 4 as long as we continue on the path we've started.

If we only finish 6th this season I'll be a bit disappointed

connachta · 29-11-2015 12:54am

b.gud wrote: »

If we only finish 6th this season I'll be a bit disappointed

I won't :cool:

RogerThis · 29-11-2015 9:20am

RogerThis wrote: »

Wowwe wow we wow!!!!

What a game from Connacht, a real 'coming of age' game.
I thought that Munster would have too much for us, after getting a weeks rest. Couldn't be more prouder of the boys.

Beating Munster two games in a row, have we ever done that before? Undefeated in 2015.

Glasgow came from the bottom of the league to winning it in a few years, why can't Connacht.

We should be aiming for a top 4 finish.

Got that wrong, Munster won in March 2015. 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

Anyway the last time we won an away inter pro, we got 7 years of bad luck ie Michael Bradley.
Surely the IRFU can't inflict another 7 years of bad luck on us again. It was only Munster, hopefully the IRFU weren't watching.

I have watched many games against Munster where they would line out a second string team, and still beat us.

Ulster are the only team that have the hex on us now. When was the last time we beat them?

flouncer · 29-11-2015 9:42am

did we answer the robbie henshaw transfer question yesterday?

Utah_Saint · 29-11-2015 9:49am

great win. The Aki try was superb.

Really hope Connacht can finish the season as top Irish province. Lam showing the other coaches how to earn your keep

phog · 29-11-2015 11:45am

flouncer wrote: »

did we answer the robbie henshaw transfer question yesterday?

When Henshaw moves you'll be told it was his decision. What you won't be told is who influenced it.

If the IRFU are serious about Connacht then they need to ensure he stays at Connacht.

BTW, Congrats on the win. Best Irish Province at the moment.

connachta · 29-11-2015 12:00pm

I woke up this morning having made two dreams about Connacht (one of them crazy, they were playing beach rugby against Leinster, true story!:D)

The reality is far better than anything we could have dreamt 2 years ago. For the first time as a Connacht supporter, I'm serene, peaceful.

Lose Heenan? Nepia Fox Matamua steps in
Lose Nepia? Connolly steps in brilliantly
And Moloney's next

White is 34? Bealham's ok, Menuargia promising
Naoupu's 33? Masterson already is a Masterpiece
Muldoon? SOB is indeed a 2.0 version of SOB, the future is all to take for him

Cooney out for 3 months? I rate Caolin Blade highly
And even Henshaw isn't irreplaceable, Parata looked great.

And we have McCartney, McSharry, Roux, McKeon, Marshall and Poolman on the verge of return, I can't imagine where there gonna play. The fight for any spots is absolutely incredible

ClanofLams · 29-11-2015 12:32pm

b.gud wrote: »

This isn't a dig at you Thomond because I know you're not putting us down and you didn't bring it up but...

I don't want to hear anyone talking about we should have 6th place sorted. We should be focusing on staying at the top of the table and making the play offs. If any of the other Irish teams were at the top of the table now they wouldnt be talking about "ok we should have 6th place secured now" they would be talking about winning the league and so should we. We showed tonight that we're not the poor cousin anymore. We've always been able to pull off wins at home but now we're starting to win away as well. We can definitely finish in the top 4 as long as we continue on the path we've started.

If we only finish 6th this season I'll be a bit disappointed

Agree 100%.

With that in mind, next weeks match against Cardiff is very tricky. It would be easy to look at the table and see 1 from 8 and think we should win. They have had a ridiculously difficult start (4 provinces and ospreys away) with Cardiff Arms being used as fan zone for the World Cup. They were were within 5 points of us at the Sportsground (albeit we should have won by more) and didn't lose any province by more than 8.

If we play at our best we can get a win but we will need to be at our best.

maoriincork · 29-11-2015 12:33pm

What a game. Well done lads so pleased for the whole of Connacht.
I was asked as we began to file out of Thormon by another Connacht fan who was as happy and pleased as I what I thought of that.
And without a doubt I had to say it was as good as the World Cup final for me.
A special win. Living in cork with rugby mad mates whom could not understand why the son chose Connacht over Munster to play for. Now we see it.

b.gud · 29-11-2015 12:48pm

ClanofLams wrote: »

Agree 100%.

With that in mind, next weeks match against Cardiff is very tricky. It would be easy to look at the table and see 1 from 8 and think we should win. They have had a ridiculously difficult start (4 provinces and ospreys away) with Cardiff Arms being used as fan zone for the World Cup. They were were within 5 points of us at the Sportsground (albeit we should have won by more) and didn't lose any province by more than 8.

If we play at our best we can get a win but we will need to be at our best.

Completely agree we should be targeting the win but we def can't take it for granted

porterbelly · 29-11-2015 12:59pm

maoriincork wrote: »

What a game. Well done lads so pleased for the whole of Connacht.
I was asked as we began to file out of Thormon by another Connacht fan who was as happy and pleased as I what I thought of that.
And without a doubt I had to say it was as good as the World Cup final for me.
A special win. Living in cork with rugby mad mates whom could not understand why the son chose Connacht over Munster to play for. Now we see it.

Your son has a big future, going great guns this year.

testtech05 · 29-11-2015 1:48pm

maoriincork wrote: »

What a game. Well done lads so pleased for the whole of Connacht.
I was asked as we began to file out of Thormon by another Connacht fan who was as happy and pleased as I what I thought of that.
And without a doubt I had to say it was as good as the World Cup final for me.
A special win. Living in cork with rugby mad mates whom could not understand why the son chose Connacht over Munster to play for. Now we see it.

If ya don't mind me asking maoriincork, which one of the lad's is your son?

wp_rathead · 29-11-2015 1:50pm

testtech05 wrote: »

If ya don't mind me asking maoriincork, which one of the lad's is your son?

Rory Parata

testtech05 · 29-11-2015 1:54pm

wp_rathead wrote: »

Rory Parata

Thanks wp_rathead!! Have to agree with porterbelly he has a huge future, some great performances already this season!!

connachta · 29-11-2015 2:00pm

I know I'm anticipating, a little bit but for next year i'd like 95% of our great current squad
+ Steenson, Sheriff and a NIQ ambidextrous prop
It's reasonnable and enough

Bridge93 · 29-11-2015 2:27pm

connachta wrote: »

I know I'm anticipating, a little bit but for next year i'd like 95% of our great current squad
+ Steenson, Sheriff and a NIQ ambidextrous prop
It's reasonnable and enough

I believe the term is Ambipropstrous.

That was some result. Munster were made to look extremely ordinary in their own backyard. I was one who have been waiting for what I thought would be the inevitable crash back to earth, but it doesnt seem to be coming. I felt Connacht made the most of the WC disruption to others but then would be pulled back once they all strengthened. I'm increasingly thinking this wont happen. While I don't think Connacht will win the Pro12 they are suddenly legit top 4 contenders which i for one never saw happening.
I honestly can't pick between Munster and Connacht anymore, the pecking order may be changing. Connacht look to have more potential coming through than Munster at the minute anyway. There could well be as many Connacht lads in the 6N squad as from down south.
When the top teams lose their players to the 6N squad you can see Connacht capitalising again. Even if you lose a few this time too, you have a level of strength in depth i had no idea was there.
Serious re-evaluation of my opinions of teams relative to each other is needed! No longer the plucky baby cousin of the other 3

cosalofa · 29-11-2015 2:37pm

connachta wrote: »

I woke up this morning having made two dreams about Connacht (one of them crazy, they were playing beach rugby against Leinster, true story!:D)

The reality is far better than anything we could have dreamt 2 years ago. For the first time as a Connacht supporter, I'm serene, peaceful.

Lose Heenan? Nepia Fox Matamua steps in
Lose Nepia? Connolly steps in brilliantly
And Moloney's next

White is 34? Bealham's ok, Menuargia promising
Naoupu's 33? Masterson already is a Masterpiece
Muldoon? SOB is indeed a 2.0 version of SOB, the future is all to take for him

Cooney out for 3 months? I rate Caolin Blade highly
And even Henshaw isn't irreplaceable, Parata looked great.

And we have McCartney, McSharry, Roux, McKeon, Marshall and Poolman on the verge of return, I can't imagine where there gonna play. The fight for any spots is absolutely incredible

You're forgetting Conan O'Donnell who has been brilliant whenever he has played.

connachta · 29-11-2015 3:23pm

cblaix wrote: »

You're forgetting Conan O'Donnell who has been brilliant whenever he has played.

Not forgotten, just think a prop needs one or two more years to be a regular contender by all accounts (not only scrum):)

cosalofa · 29-11-2015 3:48pm

As that may be (and I agree with you) he seems on be ahead of Menuargia in the pecking order.

connachta · 29-11-2015 10:06pm

Georgian props come to their best after 30, it's well-known;)

For Cardiff : With the magnificent win in Thomond Park, and Challenge cup to rotate the squad the week after, I'm favourable of maintaining our heroes to keep going that well....

Only personal changes would be on the bench, Marshall/Roux as 19, and Browne or McKeon as 20

Marc O Polo · 29-11-2015 11:36pm

Hearing henshaw may have a broken bone in his hand! Not confirmed as waiting on scans but his hand is massively swollen! So if true that's a few weeks out!!

connachta · 30-11-2015 1:45pm

Big blow for Connacht. Robbie Henshaw ruled out for around 6 weeks with fracture in his hand. Denis Buckley out for 3 weeks

connachta · 30-11-2015 1:53pm

On the other side Cardiff should be without Decey Rees Tom James and Warburton

wp_rathead · 30-11-2015 2:01pm

Funnily enough, while a massive blow, we could survive losing Robbie
But jaysus no Denis

Thank feck Loughney is back

Connacht Rugby Thread - Part III - The Violence of the Lams

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