Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

KBurke85 · 27-11-2020 9:34pm

The Friend Zone

its_phil wrote: »

These postponements are going to be a disaster given the Heineken Cup final and PRO14 final we’re already scheduled for. Going to be hard to defend our Heineken Cup crown if we’re going to have three 0-0 awarded

The first rescheduled game is next week

connachta · 28-11-2020 4:35pm

The good side of it is we're heading to Champions Cup limiting our injury-exposition

Question : does it count as a week off for Papali'i?

The Lost Sheep · 28-11-2020 4:37pm

connachta wrote: »

The good side of it is we're heading to Champions Cup limiting our injury-exposition

Question : does it count as a week off for Papali'i?

No. When have the bans ever been competition based?
Its weeks based. He's not available until Leinster game January 2nd

connachta · 28-11-2020 5:24pm

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

No. When have the bans ever been competition based?
Its weeks based. He's not available until Leinster game January 2nd

My question was : does this cancelled game make his comeback implementing later...

The Lost Sheep · 28-11-2020 5:25pm

connachta wrote: »

My question was : does this cancelled game make his comeback later...

No. why would it? Its weeks based punishment.

Former Former Former · 28-11-2020 5:36pm

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

No. why would it? Its weeks based punishment.

Aren't they normally games based? Hence his last suspension carried over from last season into this.

Burkie1203 · 28-11-2020 5:48pm

Mul, it's over

Former Former Former wrote: »

Aren't they normally games based? Hence his last suspension carried over from last season into this.

Think that was to avoid A games being used

This is a straight 5 week ban

connachta · 28-11-2020 6:29pm

If, even with this cancelled game, the coming date is confirmed vs Leinster, his ban is then OK for me

I woudn't have played Big Papa anyway in the 3 meaningful games that are Ulster and both Champions Cup games. Too soon

SqueakyKneecap · 30-11-2020 2:23pm

I won't believe there's a match happening Friday till kick-off that this stage.

connachta · 30-11-2020 2:32pm

SqueakyKneecap wrote: »

I won't believe there's a match happening Friday till kick-off that this stage.

It could be interrupted after K.O because of late PCR test result :cool::rolleyes:

FACECUTTR · 30-11-2020 3:46pm

SqueakyKneecap wrote: »

I won't believe there's a match happening Friday till kick-off that this stage.

What time is alleged kick off and is it on the tv ?

Bazzo · 30-11-2020 4:06pm

Mul, it's over

Didn't realise there was a match this weekend. Is it the rescheduled Benetton one?

SqueakyKneecap · 30-11-2020 4:16pm

Word on the street is that it's Treviso Friday night this week. You didn't hear it from me though.

TG4 Beo

MarinersBlues · 30-11-2020 5:26pm

Mul, it's over

SqueakyKneecap wrote: »

Word on the street is that it's Treviso Friday night this week. You didn't hear it from me though.

TG4 Beo

https://www.pro14.rugby/match-centre/2021/4

connachta · 30-11-2020 11:06pm

Edinburgh and Cardiff have lost without a single bonus point, home ; can't ask for better results

connachta · 01-12-2020 8:13pm

The Connacht Eagles will play two ‘A’ interpros in the coming month:

VS leinsterrugby
Sat 12/12 @ Energia Park (k/o 14:00)
VS UlsterRugby
Fri 18/12 @ The Sportsground (k/o 13:00)

connachta · 02-12-2020 11:44am

Byrne out so Bealham 17 again I guess...
If we see Kelleher/Herring pairing, any chance Heff is released for us on Friday?

KBurke85 · 02-12-2020 12:50pm

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Byrne out so Bealham 17 again I guess...
If we see Kelleher/Herring pairing, any chance Heff is released for us on Friday?

No chance. I'd say he'd probably be kept as cover in case someone goes down in the warm up

Bazzo · 02-12-2020 2:13pm

Mul, it's over

Oisín Dowling is participating in full training this week

FACECUTTR · 02-12-2020 2:40pm

Bazzo wrote: »

Oisín Dowling is participating in full training this week

Great news.

connachta · 02-12-2020 3:56pm

Bazzo wrote: »

Oisín Dowling is participating in full training this week

So McAllister 1 to have Buckley fully for the next 3 (Europe + Ulster)
Heff perfectly fresh for these games too if kept in the fridge
Dillane/Thornbury and Dowling as 19, softly introduced this week before Roux comeback
Masterson for Papali'i as 20 behind Boyle/Butler/SOB superb back-row

Marmion released (again)? Hope so, he needs gametime. Blade back, too
Carty has to focus on rebuilding confidence, after enduring both Byrne and Burns prefered to him
Daly/Arnold is our only pairing waiting for Bundee...No Robb in sight...
Then Wootton/Porch, but 3rd spot up to grab between Healy, Sullivan and TOH...Waiting for BOD

CMcsporty · 02-12-2020 4:11pm

connachta wrote: »

So McAllister 1 to have Buckley fully for the next 3 (Europe + Ulster)
Heff perfectly fresh for these games too if kept in the fridge
Dillane/Thornbury and Dowling as 19, softly introduced this week before Roux comeback
Masterson for Papali'i as 20 behind Boyle/Butler/SOB superb back-row

Marmion released (again)? Hope so, he needs gametime. Blade back, too
Carty has to focus on rebuilding confidence, after enduring both Byrne and Burns prefered to him
Daly/Arnold is our only pairing waiting for Bundee...No Robb in sight...
Then Wootton/Porch, but 3rd spot up to grab between Healy, Sullivan and TOH...Waiting for BOD

Whats story with Carty?

connachta · 02-12-2020 4:15pm

CMcsporty wrote: »

Whats story with Carty?

Farrell is -again after Schmidt- a Leinster coach, and prefers Leinster n° 1 2 3 to Connacht 1st

+ Carty not up to it recently

mix of both

Dave_The_Sheep · 02-12-2020 4:21pm

Mul, it's over

connachta wrote: »

Farrell is -again after Schmidt- a Leinster coach,

Farrell is a what now?

sydthebeat · 02-12-2020 4:44pm

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Farrell is -again after Schmidt- a Leinster coach, and prefers Leinster n° 1 2 3 to Connacht 1st

+ Carty not up to it recently

mix of both

want some salt with that?

CMcsporty · 02-12-2020 4:45pm

connachta wrote: »

Farrell is -again after Schmidt- a Leinster coach, and prefers Leinster n° 1 2 3 to Connacht 1st

+ Carty not up to it recently

mix of both

Has that been somewhat exaggerated?

I cant recall the game i was watching last month but i thought he looked really good.
Chip kicks, flat passes and made a couple of breaks.
Ok - He kicked it out on the full and had a missed tackle but i didnt see a player struggling for confidence.

realhorrorshow · 02-12-2020 4:51pm

Carty is obviously a great player for us but tbh he still makes far too many errors to be an international and at 28 that probably isn’t going to change. Don’t think bias comes into it.

connachta · 02-12-2020 4:52pm

CMcsporty wrote: »

Has that been somewhat exaggerated?

I cant recall the game i was watching last month but i thought he looked really good.
Chip kicks, flat passes and made a couple of breaks.
Ok - He kicked it out on the full and had a missed tackle but i didnt see a player struggling for confidence.

Kicks to the posts (as Murray is not eternal) matter
He missed a lot...

ElisaAtWar · 02-12-2020 9:42pm

John Muldoon is the beast? https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_beast_2020&ved=2ahUKEwjT8Jq5k7DtAhXXSRUIHRq1AxsQFjALegQIIRAB&usg=AOvVaw0yBJqFwDjJX_Hfa-cRTwCI&cshid=1606941674107

Wegians89 · 03-12-2020 10:16am

The Friend Zone

I’d like to see something like this for tomorrow:
Buckley
Delahunt
Aungier
Masterson
Thornbury
Sob
Butler
Boyle
Reilly
Carty
Wootton
Daly
Arnold
Sullivan
Porch

Murphy
Duggan
McCoy
Dowling
Oliver
Blade
Fitz
Bod (if not fit, mcnulty)

connachta · 03-12-2020 10:50am

Wegians89 wrote: »

I’d like to see something like this for tomorrow:
Buckley
Delahunt
Aungier
Masterson
Thornbury
Sob
Butler
Boyle
Reilly
Carty
Wootton
Daly
Arnold
Sullivan
Porch

Murphy
Duggan
McCoy
Dowling
Oliver
Blade
Fitz
Bod (if not fit, mcnulty)

Blade and Marmion (if released) both need gametime, play them

We could stop having Masterson as 2nd row. Dillane/Thornbury/Dowling + Roux back next week (and C.Daly as back-up)

Why not resting Buckley, though he was forced to last week... On the bench behind McAllister, to give the latter rythm ?

No BOD yet (interpro maybe), but maybe TOH? (due to integrate squad trainning this week)

100% agree about the other names

Wegians89 · 03-12-2020 10:57am

The Friend Zone

connachta wrote: »

Blade and Marmion (if released) both need gametime, play them

We could stop having Masterson as 2nd row. Dillane/Roux/Dowling + Roux back next week (and C.Daly as back-up)

Why not resting Buckley, though he was forced to last week... On the bench behind McAllister, to give the latter rythm ?

No BOD yet (interpro maybe), but maybe TOH (due to integrate squad trainning this week)?

100% agree about the other names

Marmion won’t be released, doubt any player will as the Connacht match is before the Irish match. Slight possibility of Dillane but wouldn’t count on it.

Personally prefer players coming back from injury to be brought back in on the bench, so that’s why I’d start blade there. Plus I feel Reilly deserves the opportunity to back up his MOTM performance.

Buckley, like the rest of the squad had a week off last week. I’d prefer to see Duggan get game time over McAllister, feel Duggan will over take him on the pecking order soon.

Healy and TOH don’t get me excited anymore, I’d like to see an academy player on the bench instead of them.

connachta · 03-12-2020 11:04am

Dillane isn't even with the Irish squad, is he?
Henderson, Ryan, Roux, Beirne...

I checked, yes he is on yesterday pics...
Hope he'll be released

connachta · 03-12-2020 11:09am

TOH is still ahaed of young McNulty for now

we can't have an entire unexperienced squad
Aungier, Sullivan, maybe Reilly, you can add Arnold/Wootton, that's enough players with not much pro rugby under their belt in the past 2 years

connachta · 03-12-2020 11:27am

nice to see D.Murray in the trainning sessions

As soon as next season we could have a brother pairing !

FACECUTTR · 03-12-2020 1:11pm

Friday 4th December, The Sportsground, Kick-Off 7.35pm

Number/Name/Caps (* denotes uncapped)
15. John Porch (23)
14. Peter Sullivan (4)
13. Sammy Arnold (6)
12. Tom Daly (30)
11. Alex Wootton (6)
10. Conor Fitzgerald (27)
9. Caolin Blade (114)
1. Denis Buckley (184)
2. Shane Delahunt (82)
3. Jack Aungier (6)
4. Eoghan Masterson (96)
5. Gavin Thornbury (44)
6. Sean O’Brien (58)
7. Conor Oliver (6)
8. Paul Boyle (C) (44)

Replacements
16. Jonny Murphy (9)
17. Paddy McAllister (14)
18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (56)
19. Ultan Dillane (100)
20. Jarrad Butler (61)
21. Colm Reilly (3)
22. Sean O’Brien (Acad) *
23. Matt Healy (138)

Bazzo · 03-12-2020 2:09pm

Mul, it's over

Wonder where Carty is?

KBurke85 · 03-12-2020 2:23pm

The Friend Zone

Bazzo wrote: »

Wonder where Carty is?

Rested I'd say. It's largely the squad that was picked for last week.

We have 7-8 tough weeks coming up.

its_phil · 03-12-2020 3:47pm

Mul, it's over

Kieran, Ultan, Heffernan and Bealham all with the Ireland squad as cover...but no game time... This is so frustrating.

Understandable but FFS. Kieran, Heffernan, and Ultan badly need some minutes heading into our schedule for the next month.

KBurke85 · 03-12-2020 4:23pm

The Friend Zone

its_phil wrote: »

Kieran, Ultan, Heffernan and Bealham all with the Ireland squad as cover...but no game time... This is so frustrating.

Understandable but FFS. Kieran, Heffernan, and Ultan badly need some minutes heading into our schedule for the next month.

Ultan is subbing for us at the weekend

Jump_In_Jack · 03-12-2020 4:49pm

Connacht fans, out of curiosity, what would be the best pack for Connacht, would it be the following?
1. Buckley, 2. Heffernan, 3. Bealham,
4. Dillane, 5, Roux,
6. O'Brien, 8. Papali'i, 7. Boyle,
16. Delahunt, 17. McAllister, 18. Robertson-McCoy, 19. Thornbury, 20. Butler.
Would that pack rate against the other provinces at full strength?
All the provinces are going so well at the moment, it's an interesting one to ponder.

realhorrorshow · 03-12-2020 5:03pm

Jump_In_Jack wrote: »

Connacht fans, out of curiosity, what would be the best pack for Connacht, would it be the following?
1. Buckley, 2. Heffernan, 3. Bealham,
4. Dillane, 5, Roux,
6. O'Brien, 8. Papali'i, 7. Boyle,
16. Delahunt, 17. McAllister, 18. Robertson-McCoy, 19. Thornbury, 20. Butler.
Would that pack rate against the other provinces at full strength?
All the provinces are going so well at the moment, it's an interesting one to ponder.

Imo:

Buckley
Heffernan
Bealham
Dillane (toss up with Thornbury)
Roux
O’Brien (if fit/showing good form)
Butler
Boyle

Delahunt
McAllister (to be phased out by Duggan)
Aungier (DRM in if we’re worried about scrum)
Thornbury
Papali’i

Our scrum always fairs well against other provinces. Lineout is good on our ball and excellent in defence. We are probably a bit behind in terms of breakdown work and carrying threat. Our defence is generally very good close to the ruck it’s out wide where we suffer.

Zzippy · 03-12-2020 5:58pm

I wouldn't have Papali'i included at all. Yeah, he can make a few big carries, but so does Boyle, who does a lot more besides, and his discipline/tackling issues just make him a liability. Masterson, while not as powerful, is much more reliable and a better defender.

connachta · 03-12-2020 6:52pm

its_phil wrote: »

Kieran, Ultan, Heffernan and Bealham all with the Ireland squad as cover...but no game time... This is so frustrating.

Understandable but FFS. Kieran, Heffernan, and Ultan badly need some minutes heading into our schedule for the next month.

Ultan back is welcomed

ElisaAtWar · 04-12-2020 5:31pm

That is one nasty evening for a game of rugby

Jump_In_Jack · 04-12-2020 6:00pm

Freezing, glad of a game to watch though, pity the poor back 3 lads, they'll be frozen.

ElisaAtWar · 04-12-2020 6:33pm

Jump_In_Jack wrote: »

Freezing, glad of a game to watch though, pity the poor back 3 lads, they'll be frozen.

Brings back memories of Niyi shivering at half time in krasnoyarsk.

Bazzo · 04-12-2020 8:03pm

Mul, it's over

SOB II out with a late knock, Butler to 6 and Prendergast to 20.

Absolutely everything crossed it's something very minor for Sean...

Paul Boyle keeps the captaincy even with Butler now starting.

connachta · 04-12-2020 8:06pm

Bazzo wrote: »

SOB II out with a late knock, Butler to 6 and Prendergast to 20.

Absolutely everything crossed it's something very minor for Sean...

**** ****

FACECUTTR · 04-12-2020 8:15pm

Bazzo wrote: »

SOB II out with a late knock, Butler to 6 and Prendergast to 20.

Absolutely everything crossed it's something very minor for Sean...

Paul Boyle keeps the captaincy even with Butler now starting.

Ffs but this happens alot.
Boyle is the man.

Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

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