Edinburgh V Connacht

No thread on this started yet, and I notice both teams weren't really being discussed pre-match in the previous weeks, so lets have a go and see what falls out.

A bit of a role reversal at the moment, normally this is a basement team versus a mid-table team but this time the positions are the wrong way 'round. Ok, this is only week three so table positions are mostly meaningless, but I have to big it up somehow.

Edinburgh: Disappointing start, allowing Cardiff a bonus point victory on their home turf, which hurt enough to see them turn in a performance a (possibly) complacent Ospreys never saw coming after their comfortable Leinster win. They certainly have a bit of grit still available to them, not to mention the most potent try scorer over the past few years in Tim Visser.

Connacht: Two very fortifying wins from two, which is more than most would have credited them with achieving before the start of the season, but then again this is a team that likes to take your expectations and shove them in uncomfortable places. A playmaker in the centre by the traditional Galwegian name of Fa'afili is making waves, his lovely handoff to Ulsterman McCrea for the try against Scarlets is the kind of thing they've been crying out for for years.

But forget the teams, this game has a back-story that will have Connacht fans foaming at the mouth. Michael Bradley has started the season with two losses, a track record all too familiar to the Irish province which could cause a certain amount of schadenfreude, but also might give them a false sense of security. Bradley had a habit of winning against teams that had a swagger, but who the hell ever thought that would be Connacht?

Bragging rights are up for grabs in what is usually a dour encounter, not much of a headline grabber, but if Connacht can win away from home, against the old boss, oh how they'll love that.

The beard-stroking verdict: Edinburgh win, LBP for Connacht.

Teams:

Connacht

15 Gavin Duffy
14 Mark McCrea
13 Eoin Griffin
12 Henry Fa'afili
11 Tiernan O'Halloran
10 Matthew Jarvis
9 Frank Murphy
1 Ronan Loughney
2 Ethienne Reynecke
3 Rodney Ah You
4 Michael Swift
5 Mike McCarthy
6 John Muldoon
7 Johnny O'Connor
8 George Naoupu

16 Adrian Flavin
17 Brett Wilkinson
18 Dylan Rogers
19 Dave Gannon
20 Ray Ofisa
21 Paul O'Donohoe
22 Niall O'Connor
23 Brian Tuohy



Edinburgh
15 Tom Brown
14 Lee Jones
13 Jim Thompson
12 James King
11 Tim Visser
10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN
9 Chris Leck
1 Kyle Traynor
2 Steve Lawrie
3 Jack Gilding
4 Grant Gilchrist
5 Steven Turnbull
6 Sean Cox
7 Roddy Grant
8 David Denton

16 Andrew Kelly
17 Robin Hislop
18 Shaun Knight
19 Esteban Lozada
20 Stuart McInally
21 Alex Black
22 Gregor Hunter
23 Matt Scott

Connacht statistically don't win away from home so, with that in mind, Edinburgh probably will win. I think with the two wins under their belt, the new players filling in seamlessly, and the players at Edinburgh gone to the world cup, combined with Micheál to beat, Connacht have a decentish chance and I've gone for them by 2 on sportguru. I hope they manage it. This is their year to shine with the Heineken on as well. Their season tickets seem to be up and, if they keep winning, the support will definitely follow.

Good thread by the way. There may not be many Connacht or Edinburgh lads here but it's always nice to keep up the teams!

Just read on the Pro12 site Michael Swift will earn his 200th cap for Connacht in this game. That's some record.

Are there many other double centurions in the Pro12? John Hayes? Anyone else?

Connacht team announced, added to the original post.

TJ Anderson drops out, unlucky, but backrow is a hard place to stake a claim at Connacht. David Gannon in after joining from Leinster.

15 Tom Brown

14 Lee Jones
13 Jim Thompson
12 James King
11 Tim Visser

10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN
9 Chris Leck

1 Kyle Traynor
2 Steve Lawrie
3 Jack Gilding
4 Grant Gilchrist
5 Steven Turnbull
6 Sean Cox
7 Roddy Grant
8 David Denton

Substitutes
16 Andrew Kelly
17 Robin Hislop
18 Shaun Knight
19 Esteban Lozada
20 Stuart McInally
21 Alex Black
22 Gregor Hunter
23 Matt Scott


Interesting choice for Edinburgh is the fact we are playing JT at 13, Perhaps Cairns is not training well or has picked up an Injury.

Cheers Rugger, I'll add that to the top as well...

So what can you tell us about this team?

greybeard wrote:Connacht team announced, added to the original post.

TJ Anderson drops out, unlucky, but backrow is a hard place to stake a claim at Connacht. David Gannon in after joining from Leinster.

He was with Exeter Chiefs last season, greybeard

He was, then Leinster signed him from Exeter as cover for the RWC period.

Looks like it didn't stick though, so he signed a full contract with Connacht. I think they lost one of their second rows for the season in the preseason so a 1 year contract with them was better for him than a 6 week contract with us.

Ah-ha, hadn't realised that, good news indeed for DG - a proper, quietly-spoken gent

Hmmmm, Edinburgh will have a pretty combatove pack. Our backrow is pretty Sharp, Denton will be prime carrier and he is a bit of a bruiser at full gallop. Roddy Grant is a capable Openside decent at scrapping the ball on the ground but less so in the rolling maul. Grant Gilchrist is maturing well into the lock position and our front row is pretty good despite all Jacobsen, Ford and Cross with Scotland in New Zealand.

Laidlaw is producing some sublime stuff at 10 and can feel pretty hard done by not to be in New Zealand now. His MOTM performance against the O's last week shows just how versatile he has become efforlessly switchin between 9 an 10. I reckon if he has his heart set on playing test match rugby for Scotland he will need to focus on 10 because the 9 berth is already pretty crowded.

Visser as you probably know is a very capable strike runner and Jones brings the more elusive style of wing play for Edinburgh.

King is a good centre too not sure why Cairns is not in there and I'm also not sur how JT will get on in the centre either.

Time will tell though.

As much as I've been bigging Connacht up this season saying possible top 6 finish.
I can't see them winning this one, Edinburgh at home are till a tough team, don't believe what the Blues tell you, however I think Connacht have the better team, I'm actually going to say this one is a draw.

Draw written all over it.

paddy power
Edinburgh 4/9
Connacht 7/4
Draw 20/1 well worth a few pound.

I think it's something like 3-5% of regular season matches in the Pro12 have been draws. Maybe two or three a year. You'd be crazy to actively pick a draw.

Having said that, I have a sneaky suspicion this will be a draw as well, I just wouldn't be brave enough to put money on it.

I think whoever wins this one will be within less than 7 and can see Edinburgh shading it although their team doesn't look great without some of their big names.

If Connacht win it will be a great result for them and will leave them with a good opening foundation for the season

few games are draws in rugby its just the way the scores work High points totals and differnt ways to get them.

I'm thinking £2 on this, I won't miss £2 but if I get £40 i will notice it.

would normally never bet on a draw as they are so rare

You could be on to something there. Last season between these two the home team won, the away team got an LBP.

Aggregate score was 47-46, Edinburgh edge this by a single point!

This one is an absolute must-win for Edinburgh. It's a good team that's picked as well. Laidlaw is organised at 10 and played well in combination with King last season. Jones and Visser will do a lot provided they get decent ball. Should be an open game, hope the weather is good for it.

Fantastic that Gilchrist is getting this exposure so early in his career. 6ft7 and over 18 stone and he's only just turned 21. Certainly one for the future.

Turned out a close game as predicted, well done Edinburgh for finishing it off.

Both Scottish sides winning on the same weekend. I wonder when that last happened?

I see laidlaw playing for the burgh and see Desperate Dan playing for Scotland and I can't help thinking we brought the wrong player!

well didn't get the draw and paddy power made another £2 outta me.

I'll be sure to get in back mind.

I called it correctly