Connacht v Glaws

Teams are up for Connacht v Glaws. This is going to be an attritional game and without stating the obvious the forwards will settle this match. For Glaws it is great to have Hazell back as we have sorely missed his 7 skills. Our backline is also looking pretty tasty we just need to get the game management right. You’ll know where my heart lies in terms of predictions, but my head says too close to call!

CONNACHT
Gavin Duffy (C); Mark McCrea, Kyle Tonetti, Dave McSharry, Tiernan O’Halloran; Niall O’Connor, Frank Murphy; Brett Wilkinson, Ethienne Reynecke, Ronan Loughney; Mike McCarthy, George Naoupu; Dave Gannon, John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa

Replacements:
Adrian Flavin, Denis Buckley, Rodney Ah You, Mick Kearney, Eoin McKeon, Paul O’Donohoe, Matthew Jarvis, Fetu’u Vainikolo

GLAWS
Olly Morgan; Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, James Simpson-Daniel; Freddie Burns, Rory Lawson; Nick Wood, Scott Lawson, Dario Chistolini; Peter Buxton, Jim Hamilton; Brett Deacon, Andy Hazell, Luke Narraway (capt)

Replacements:

Matias Cortese, Dan Murphy, Rupert Harden, Will James, Akapusi Qera, Nick Runciman, Tim Taylor, Jonny May

That's an awful looking Connacht team, Glaws shouldn't be overly troubled.

No Ah You (starting), Nikora or Griffen. NOC starting.

Naoupu is an 8 playing 5, Gannon is a 5 playing 6, Muldoon is a 6 playing 7, Ofisa is a 7 playing 8, Naoupu is an 8 playing....

Looks like Connacht have decided to concentrate on the Pro12 already. I guess they need to considering where they are in the table.

Weirdly I've gone for Connacht to win by 3 in this one. I don't know why, just a feeling. Agree that it's clearly not the best side they could put out, but still think they could do a job. Will depend a lot on the weather too.

rugbydreamer wrote:Weirdly I've gone for Connacht to win by 3 in this one. I don't know why, just a feeling. Agree that it's clearly not the best side they could put out, but still think they could do a job. Will depend a lot on the weather too.

There's nothing weird about it! Glaws have been in poor form recently with far too many basic errors and a lack of game management, so on form despite the weaker side Connacht have to be favourites.

Connacht managed to lose at home to Treviso last week with pretty much the same team. They managed this while having most of the possession and territory. They're regressing badly at the moment.

I think Gloucester should win by 20+. On paper.
But that's their problem. They could put a big win up, but Connacht fight like hell and if Gloucester have anything less than their A game, they will be in a boatload of hurt.

That is a tasty looking Glaws backline. They need to start getting it right though, I hope they do today.

Anyone know if this is going to be on TV anywhere? Link perhaps?

Notch I'll pm you a link

You legend Feckless

Thanks man.

Oh dea, O'Connor is back to his ulster form so far- Connacht lineout also pretty shabby. C'mon Connacht!

Connacht having a really good go at this coming to the end of the first half.

By the way....

Treviso have scored 3 tries and have Biarritz on the ropes at the minute.

Biarritz really don't like traveling to Italy do they?

Not that surprised. Treviso have been slowly turning into a good team since they joined the Pro12.

Becoming a very good outfit alright - Treviso that is.

any chance of a link??

Sent you a PM Golden - hope Thomond doesnt mind :p

Cheers

Connacht just seemed to wake up at the end of the half- with the wind behind them I hope they can kick on and win this!

Artful, Boo-urns. Found another site that provides great links so must send it on to a few people.

Great counter maul from Connacht there.

Connacht player gouged on the floor??

Could be a citing.

Definitly looked like it.

commentators reluctant to call it. Just a bit of 'sculduggery'?

If Glos lose yet another game they should've put to bed early, I will cry.

Castres 36-22 and saints a player in the bin.

Gloucester really arent very clever.

For a second time they decide not to go for 3 points from in front of the posts, Connacht then win a scrum from the resulting lineout, then win a penalty for back chat from Gloucester.

Gloucester forwards are working incredibly hard to get into these point scoring positions just to throw it away.

Treviso 27 - 26 Biarritz

Really hope Treviso can hold on for the win.

Love if Treviso won.

Saints are getting hammered 41-22

Treviso 30 - 26 Biarritz ........last few minutes.

10 metre line, lineout to Connacht last play of the game. Can they do it?

No Glaws win. Good effort Connacht.

No they can't, a bizarre move. They were moving slowly but still moving forward.

Connacht have possession need a try and the clocks in red what do they do?

Kick it of course!

What was NOC thinking?

Shame Connacht couldnt quite do it.

Treviso have beaten Biarritz 30-26 though, yet another outstanding result for the Italians.

Sadly some of Connachts limitations were shown up today, particularly their scrum, lineout and halfbacks. Hard one to take for the men of the West.

Wish ummm, were still around. He'd have some choice words reserved for that last-minute kick.

Artful_Dodger wrote:Treviso have beaten Biarritz 30-26 though, yet another outstanding result for the Italians.

And predicting a 4pt win on SportGuru saw me move from 25th to 8th place.

Reading this thread it sounds as if Connacht were poor - ie strugglingat the set piece, half backs and kicking. As Glaws were only just winners were they poor as well?

LT, Glaws were better than they have been, but still way off where we should be - however, this has got us winning again and hopefully we'll build a bit of confidence and momentum moving forward.

I thought our front 5 were excellent, in particular Woody and Big Jim. I do hope Lancaster realises there isn't an English LH anywhere close to the standard of Wood and gove him his much deserved call up. I also hope that Jim incident wasn't a gouging one.

Just watched the replay of the Jim incident, there was some contact with eyes, but his fingers remained flat and didn't have the tale tale sign of a finger bending to poke the eye, his hand was flapping for the ball. I abhor gouging and my natural bias wouldn't cloud this, but I cannot say that was a gouging incident.