Connacht v Embra

Why not go COMPLETELY MAD and start a new thread?

You could even spell your team's name better than I did.

Connacht

15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Tiernan O’Halloran
13. Danie Poolman
12. Dave McSharry
11. Gavin Duffy (captain)
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Ronan Loughney
4. Mick Kearney
5. Andrew Browne
6. Johnny O’Connor
7. Willie Faloon
8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements:

16. Adrian Flavin
17. Denis Buckley
18. JP Cooney
19. Danny Qualter
20. Dave Gannon
21. Paul O’Donohoe
22. Miah Nikora
23. Fetu’u Vainikolo

Embra

15 Greig Tonks
14 Tom Brown
13 Nick De Luca
12 Matt Scott
11 Tim Visser
10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN
9 Richie Rees

1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Andy Titterrell
3 Willem Nel
4 Perry Parker
5 Sean Cox
6 David Denton
7 Roddy Grant
8 Stuart McInally

Substitutes
16 Alun Walker
17 John Yapp
18 Lewis Niven
19 Robert McAlpine
20 Izak van der Westhuizen
21 Chris Leck
22 Gregor Hunter
23 Dougie Fife

funnyExiledScot wrote:As I said above, I really hope Bradley doesn't just rotate the whole side again. There were some really encourging performances against the Ospreys, and those four players you named above, Parker, VDV, Hunter and Fife should all start again. The Scotland players should go back to the bench. It'll give them a bit of a rest, but also tell them that there are no automatic starters at Edinburgh (Tim Visser aside).

My team for the next game:

1.Yapp 2.Ford 3.Nel 4.Parker 5.VDW 6.Cox 7.Grant 8.McInally 9.Rees 10.Hunter 11.Visser 12.Scott 13.Fife 14.Brown 15.Tonks

16.Chunk 17.Walker 18.Cross 19.Gilchrist 20.Denton 21.Laidlaw 22.Houston 23.NDL

Connacht will miss Muldoon

Side that played Dragons

Connacht: Robbie Henshaw; Tiernan O'Halloran, Danie Poolman, Dave McSharry, Gavin Duffy (capt); Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White; Michael Swift, Mick Kearney; Andrew Browne, Willie Faloon, Eoin McKeon.


Actually missed that Danie Poolman is now there and starting, hows he been doing.

Think they'll go back to strongest lineup in Prep for h-cup

Duffy
Tiernan O'Halloran, McSharry Griffin, Poolman
Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion
O'Connor, Naoupu, Faloon
Swift McCarthy
Denis Buckley, Reynecke, Loughney

Yet another big game this for Edinburgh - we got a great win last week but if we lose this week we're right back to square one. With the team we'll be able to put out and the money plowed into this squad we really should have the ability to get a good win here, but I never like away trips to Connacht!

If it is cold, wet, windy and miserable (which there is a very high chance of it being) then I think Connacht will win it - inspired by Desperate Dan at 10.

If however the weather is anything but dreadful, and Edinburgh don't forget how to win games again, I hope we can do the business.


Going to be a right battle in the 2nd row now - PJP and VDV had storming games against the hairsprays and Cox and Gilchrist will be looking for game time too. I think Cox will be at 6 again this week (unless Talei or Basalaia are fit again) which means the 3 remaining 2nd rows will fight it out for starting berths and one of the bench (assuming scuba Steve is still injured, for which there is a good chance!).

I think the Scotland guys will be rested, at least the ones that played a lot of the AIs, because we're got a really busy schedule coming up with 2 HK games, 2 1872 games, Leinster, then 2 HK games.

I'd like to see Chunk get some game time - Yapp hasn't done anything wrong but I'd like to think Chunk will be fired up for this one.

My team (allowing for Scotland players being phased back in):

1 Chunk
2 Titterell (even if Ford is fit I think he should be rested for the big games coming up)
3 Nel
4 PJP (Gilchrist has done nothing wrong, but made the mistake of getting called up by Scotland!)
5 VDV (looks to be agood signing - hard as nails and hits rucks with venom)
6 Cox
7 Grant (needs to up his performances - not dynamic enough just now)
8 McInally (needs to stop passing just before contact and giving away interceptions)
9 Rees
10 Hunter (deserves to keep his spot - his big kicking will be good for a game like this)
11 Brown (leave Visser out - again keep him fresh for a mental period coming up)
12 Houston
13 Fife (hopefully he can build on a promising game last week)
14 Jones/Sepp
15 Tonks

Yapp, Walker, Niven, Gilchrist, Watson, Leck, Piers Frances (see what he's like), Cairnsy (Here's hoping!!!)

This game has me worried, for all his faults Desperate Dan knows how to beat Edinburgh.

Although certain players should know how to beat Dan.

I would have Cox, Parker, VDW, Denton and Visser charging down that 10-9 channel all night.

Houston is at the Dubai 7s

Leaves us short at 12 then - Atiga and king are always injured, Scott played all of the AIs, maybe the new guy gives us options at 12 too?

I actually think Connacht at home will win this one. Edinburgh while a good team at times are not playing better currently than Connacht. Edinburgh wil be resting players from Scotland duty while Connacht won't really(missing Muldoon, but McCarty should be back).

Add in thats its in Galway and I'd have to say that for me Connacht start as favourites, doesn't mean they'll win it though.

Kingshu wrote:I actually think Connacht at home will win this one. Edinburgh while a good team at times are not playing better currently than Connacht. Edinburgh wil be resting players from Scotland duty while Connacht won't really(missing Muldoon, but McCarty should be back).

Add in thats its in Galway and I'd have to say that for me Connacht start as favourites, doesn't mean they'll win it though.

Connacht have been inconsistent this season. Ive been really dissapointed with them because they lost at home to the blues and then last week lost 14-3 to the dragons.

Really hoping Connacht will win this one for themselves. Want to see them kick on

Interestingly, I think Connacht will overtake us in the league if they win this one!

Had a look at the weather forecast - gonna be cold and no wind, perfect!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Leaves us short at 12 then - Atiga and king are always injured, Scott played all of the AIs, maybe the new guy gives us options at 12 too?

What about Leonard at 12? He's not a small lad, and it would take off the pressure of playing at 10, plus give a second kicking option. I'd rather Leonard tried there than Atiga.

RDW - didn't I read somewhere that your class-mate Ben Cairns is back in full training? He must be due back playing soon.
I think that Bradley will stop the rotation nonsense to try to get some momentum going. He may bring back one or two of the Scotland players for this game but they must be feeling pretty low at the moment

They said he'd back mid to end of November, so hopefully see him soon! Not gonna rush him back after 14 months out.

Not sure about Leonard at 12 - we've got a very lightweight backline anyway to put a lightweight 10 in there!

I agree that there is no massive need to rush him back given the the HC is out of the picture. That said, he isn't in the HC squad so that will be two more weekends off when he shodul be tryingt o get game time. They may, of course, let him play for the Premiership team - presumably its Currie

Big guns back for Edinburgh

15 Greig Tonks

14 Tom Brown
13 Nick De Luca
12 Matt Scott
11 Tim Visser

10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN
9 Richie Rees

1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Andy Titterrell
3 Willem Nel
4 Perry Parker
5 Sean Cox
6 David Denton
7 Roddy Grant
8 Stuart McInally

Substitutes
16 Alun Walker
17 John Yapp
18 Lewis Niven
19 Robert McAlpine
20 Izak van der Westhuizen
21 Chris Leck
22 Gregor Hunter
23 Dougie Fife

Looks like Bradley's taken a big axe to the team that actually won against the Ospreys. Terrible decision. Leaving out Hunter and Fife is a crime, just reinforces the comfort zone that our internationalists seem to be in.

From twitter

EdinburghRugby
Edinburgh backs v Connacht: 15 @greig_tonks 14 @TomBrown_15 13 De Luca 12 @MattScott_10 11 @timbovisser 10 Laidlaw CAPTAIN 9 @richievernon

Richie Vernon @ 9

Bradle's policies for team selection are fat aporaching farcical. Much like the edinburgh twitter post....

Yeah shame for the good performers of last week, but hopefully the Scotland guys will know they are breathing down their necks and have to perform

Looks like a strong Edinburgh team.

Was thinking they will take this serious, as Edinburgh H-cup is over, (just have to try and salvage some pride), Pro 12 they are two far behind to make playoffs now, 1872 cup is only think they have left, rescure some pride in europe, and finish as high as they can in pro 12 are the targets now for this year.

To finsih as high as they can in Pro 12 they have to target games like Connacht, hence the strong team. This year really should now be about restoring pride, and building for next year. If a player is going to retire or move at end of this year, no point in playing him anymore, just use them when you have to, give the youngsters more time, and experience, so when next year starts there is greater depth.

I'm not convinced the team is any stronger with Laidlaw and NDL returning over Hunter and Fife, but there we are.

Over to you Mr Bradley, Laidlaw and NDL better deliver and play well, otherwise this is yet another negative to your already blotted copy book with fEs.

Also note that from having no locks, we now have 4 in the squad!

Both teams now in OP.
23. Fetu’u Vainikolo

fresh from scoring the try that cost Robbo his job he can only make the Connacht bench

Interesting to see Duffy on the wing to accommodate Henshaw at fullback. Is Griffin injured?

Duffy was on the wing last week V Dragons, and Poolman on the other, now it looks like Poolman has been moved to center for Griffin to be rested.

I'd be intrest in how Poolman has been doing.

Connacht really have developed a good first Xv and have some depth in some positions.

7th in the table will be thier target, and it could be doable. but they will have to win games at home like this to do it.

Robbie Henshaw must be highly rated to push Duffy onto the wing for two games, i rated him, but thought it would be Henshaw on wing and Duffy retained at fullback.

Henshaw plays 13 as well I hear.

See that connacht are favourites for this one - Edinburgh on evens is surely worth putting a bit on??

The Connacht pack looks a bit weak. If I was going to bet I'd go for Edinburgh but Edinburgh doesn't exactly give punters much confidence.

Half time at the sports ground, Edinburgh 17-13 up. Tries for Scott & Visser

GLove39 wrote:Half time at the sports ground, Edinburgh 17-13 up. Tries for Scott & Visser

yaaaaaaaaaaaay

Final score 23-24 to Edinburgh.
Thankfully Parks missed a late drop goal

2 wins in a row? what black magic is this?!

Squeaky bum time by the sound of things - sounds like if it wasn't for stupid knock ons we would have romped it.

Great to get a win!

Well that should set Edinburgh up nicely for the 1872 cup , going in with a wee run of 'form'

For all the chat about Edinburgh's rubbish league form, we're only 8 points away from the play-offs!

Makes the rubbish losses to Trevisio, Scarlets and Munster at home all the more frustrating.

Good lord - at last a squeak of light for Scottish rugby after Glasgow's monstrous wedgie at the hands of the men from Limerick.

RDW_Scotland wrote:For all the chat about Edinburgh's rubbish league form, we're only 8 points away from the play-offs!

Makes the rubbish losses to Trevisio, Scarlets and Munster at home all the more frustrating.

Interesting times. Agree that some of our home games have been embarrassingly poor. Been there and face palmed my way through them.


Realistically Edinburgh need to win 10 or possibly 9 of their remaining games to be challenging for the play offs, I think that's too big an ask. If we can beat Glasgow in both the 1872 games it might just be possible, they're on the back of 2 losses and both sides have tough Heini matches coming up, so not even going to try and predict form going into those games.

If Edinburgh don't make at least top 6 then Bradley must go.

I liked Mcinallys try on stv rugby tonight. Thats how to use Visser, if youre not going to give him the ball, at least make it look like you are and make them commit defenders to marking him.

And Matt Scotts try looked like what they kept trying to pull of against south africa, except it was well weighted Scott actually knew it was coming this time.

And apologies Connacht fans, but as an edinburgh fan, it was bloomin good to see Parks miss a drop goal against us for once.

Good win for Embra

I thought Edinburgh looked quite dangerous. It's a testament to Connacht that they hung in there like that

I'll watch the highlights tonight - sounds like Edinburgh created plenty chances but stupid mistakes and knock ons ruined them. Hopefully they can sharpen up a bit.

Concerning that we almost lost to a Connacht team hampered by numerous injuries - and we had pretty much a full team out- but we haven't won there in a while so just happy to get a win!