Connacht Rugby 2015 / 2016

[simonokeeffe]

Wasn't expecting that. It looked to me like Fitzgibbon handed that comeback to Treviso, lots of poor decisions that helped claw Connacht back. Not that they didn't make a lot of mistakes themselves anyway. The scrum was really poor and there were lots of other mistakes too, think they tried to play too much rugby under pressure too.

The backs were very poor defensively, can't help but feel the coaching is poor in that regard and they could do a better job of developing players. It showed how much they rely on Aki and you can't just rely so much on an NIQ like that.

the props were a big weakness in general, think Bealham's introduction was delayed as they were almost unsure which side to bring him on to
a few backs took too much stuff on to themselves

must also point out there was a blatant foot in touch for Steyn's try

[simonokeeffe]

15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Niyi Adeolokun
13 Robbie Henshaw
12 Bundee Aki
11 Matt Healy
10 AJ MacGinty
9 Kieran Marmion

1 Ronan Loughney
2 Tom McCartney
3 Finlay Bealham
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Aly Muldowney
6 Sean O’Brien
7 Jake Heenan
8 John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements:

16 Dave Heffernan
17 JP Cooney
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Quinn Roux
20 Eoin McKeon
21 John Cooney
22 Shane O’Leary
23 Peter Robb

Injured/Unavailable: Denis Buckley, Nathan White, Conan O’Donnell, Andrew Browne, Ben Marshall, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Eoghan Masterson, Ian Porter, Craig Ronaldson, Dave McSharry, Danie Poolman, Darragh Leader, Ciaran Gaffney.

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Alex Dunbar
12. Peter Horne
11. Lee Jones
10. Finn Russell
9. Ali Price

1. Gordon Reid
2. Fraser Brown
3. Sila Puafisi
4. Leone Nakarawa
5. Jonny Gray (Captain)
6. Rob Harley
7. Ryan Wilson
8. Josh Strauss

Replacements

16. Pat MacArthur
17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
18. Zander Fagerson
19. Tim Swinson
20. Simone Favaro
21. Grayson Hart
22. Mark Bennett
23. Sean Lamont

Not available due to injury: Alex Allan (concussion), Junior Bulumakau (foot), Rory Clegg (ankle), Jarrod Firth (concussion), Ryan Grant (arm), Sam Johnson (hamstring), Henry Pyrgos (neck), Fergus Scott (shoulder) and Richie Vernon (shoulder).

[Ruckedtobits]

Gonna be a very hard day at the office for Loughney. That's a serious THP playing for Warriors and second-row and flanker also contribute. Connavht have targeted specific scrums all season, really effectively, but it stops now.

Good luck to them but it may not be enough

[johng]

wise words. They could really do with dinny buckley getting in under yerman today. Loughney has looked seriously average this season.

[simonokeeffe]

wise words. They could really do with dinny buckley getting in under yerman today. Loughney has looked seriously average this season.

Bigtime

If you factor in Rodzillas impact sub factor Loughney is 5th choice. Be interesting too if White comes back at all. Front row bar the starters could be a serious weakness next season

[rookie]

Why the hell is Henshaw leaving this side?

[Angelsea Angst]

How long will Connacht be able to hold on to Pat Lam? His achievement with Connacht must surely come to the attention of some of the big spending English and French sides.

[Angelsea Angst]

How long will Connacht be able to hold on to Pat Lam? His achievement with Connacht must surely come to the attention of some of the big spending English and French sides.

[Ruckedtobits]

Although Marmion got the MOTM, what about the performance of Tom McCartney?
He was superb and as for technique, other than Jon Smit, the former SA catain, I have never seen a hooker go to LHP and perform so well.

And, as I mentioned LHP, I owe a major well done to Ronan Loughney whom I thought would have a torrid time at the Showgrounds today. He was another of the Connacht heroes and in addition to his scrum work, tackled technically as well as any back-row on the park.

Confidence is that elusive ingredient which every sports Coach seeks to instill. Watch every Connacht player today and understand why! Just like Leicester City under Ranieri, Connacht under Lam are much more than the sum of their parts. Anybody who believes they must blow up at some point should forget that notion and start figuring out how to stop them.

[Oldschoolsocks]

Although Marmion got the MOTM, what about the performance of Tom McCartney?
He was superb and as for technique, other than Jon Smit, the former SA catain, I have never seen a hooker go to LHP and perform so well.

And, as I mentioned LHP, I owe a major well done to Ronan Loughney whom I thought would have a torrid time at the Showgrounds today. He was another of the Connacht heroes and in addition to his scrum work, tackled technically as well as any back-row on the park.

Confidence is that elusive ingredient which every sports Coach seeks to instill. Watch every Connacht player today and understand why! Just like Leicester City under Ranieri, Connacht under Lam are much more than the sum of their parts. Anybody who believes they must blow up at some point should forget that notion and start figuring out how to stop them.

Point of information, Smit went to tight head, loose head was Beast.

[simonokeeffe]

Why the hell is Henshaw leaving this side?

Morketing and chance to work with Johnny and maybe likes posh women

Dan McParland would be great eventual Lam replacement, but IMO Lam does his 5 year plan there

Theyll be doing well to hang on to Aki as well. First chance to cap him for Wolfhounds or the dud AI should be taken

[Dave Cahill]

Why the hell is Henshaw leaving this side?

He wants to play for the top team in Ireland.

[scentofgunpowder]

Why the hell is Henshaw leaving this side?

He wants to play for the top team in Ireland.

Maybe, but it's hard to see what in the current Leinster back play and coaching will bring him on as a player

[Peg Leg]

Why the hell is Henshaw leaving this side?

He wants to play for the top team in Ireland.

Joining Tarf?

[LeRouxIsPHat]

I don't understand why he'd join us when he could be coached by David Corkery.

[Grumpy Old Man]

I don't understand why he'd join us when he could be coached by David Corkery.

Sod David Corkery, why isn't he going to Coventry? That Dai Young is very highly thought of apparently!

[simonokeeffe]

I don't understand why he'd join us when he could be coached by David Corkery.

Corkery would put him back to fullback where he belongs

Just watched the match, Glasgow were bumrushed and choked big time, especially Russell off the tee and Puafisi was on a mission to get yellow carded and got red for his troubles
not to diminish Connacht performance or achievement mind

Be interesting if Glasgow are more composed next time and what front rows both sides have available

[kermischocolate]

I don't understand why he'd join us when he could be coached by David Corkery.

Corkery would put him back to fullback where he belongs

Just watched the match, Glasgow were bumrushed and choked big time, especially Russell off the tee and Puafisi was on a mission to get yellow carded and got red for his troubles
not to diminish Connacht performance or achievement mind

Be interesting if Glasgow are more composed next time and what front rows both sides have available

Can't argue with that. Finn was awful (as he has been for much of this year) making terrible decisions at every turn. In saying that Connacht really should have done more against 14 for half an hour.

The rematch should be interesting!

[Ruckedtobits]

They would have done with even passable weather. They focussed on minimising possession to Warriors and playing in the right part of the pitch. If they had done that against Treviso or Ulster they would have won the league in a canter. That shows they are still learning and, for all their opponents, that's the really worrying fact.

[Oldschool]

Connacht's main system weakness this season has been defence so how did they manage to keep one of the best attacking teams to just seven points? (Didn't see the game)