Connacht v Munster Saturday 19th April KO: 18.15

14-6 at half time to Zebre at home to Edinburgh. If they can see that out it would be good for us.

19-13 now!

Borders no.2 wrote: 19-13 now!

and toulouse draw vs oyonnix which more or less means they'll be in Hcup next year. im not happy

26-13 at full time. Good result for Connacht. Looking at Edinburgh's run in I wouldn't particularly fancy them in any of the remaining games and we are only 1 point behind them at present.

Dara o'briain just dropped the development province tag again!!!

Without missed kicks and Murphy we should have one if not two BP... Sorry to say that but Connacht was the better team overall ... lack of physicality and costly mistakes are now HUGELY frustrating. we've the potential for next year guys. FRONT UP RISE UP

phatguerilla wrote: Dara o'briain just dropped the development province tag again!!!

Yes, but we give that sentiment plenty of ammunition. Is that only two BP from all Inter-pros this year? Then, you can only expect comments like that. If he says it often enough it will stick, only one way of stopping it!

I think after the good run, everyone thought that was the year done.

I thought the touch judge on the side of the Main Stand was a disgrace. Firstly for not having enough brains/eyes to realise Poolman was in touch for the disallowed try, Downey creaming Poolman off the ball, then the foot in touch before Munster scored off that turnover, then not flagging Varley when he pulled back Griffin leading the ref to blow up for a penalty. At least Griffin shouted at the Touch judge to cop on. I'm condoning screaming at the officials but he was diabolical. Thought Mitrea had a good game but was let down by the touch judges. The level of officiating this week has being worse than usual i.e Ulster vs Glasgow. I don't see why us, Zebre and some of the other smaller clubs don't band together and demand a centralised refereeing system with one person in charge.

As for us thats two weeks in a row were we have let try's being scored off basic set plays. It's just mentally turning off which isn't good enough against the top teams. We really need a defence coach next year.

There is no point in fooling ourselves, the mistakes we made there were shambolic. Munster didn't have to earn any try bar the 4th. We regained some pride in the 2nd half but Munster were always in cruise control. First try was unforgivable, balls up made at the restart and then a carbon copy of a try I have seen us concede on so many occasions from the exact same spot, just not good enough defensively.

2nd and 3rd tries were beyond bad and at that stage it was all over. Fightback was spirited but that's not much to hold on to.

32, 58 and 32 conceded in the last 3 games. While its good to see us trying to play some good rugby, defensively we are too easily exposed against any kind of decent team.

Like others our defence drives me crazy ! Just not good enough. The linesman was making me mad. So bad it was untrue.

Would also add that Eoin Griffin may be leaving but no way can he ever be accused of not giving everything until he goes. Thought he was great today

columoc wrote:

phatguerilla wrote: Dara o'briain just dropped the development province tag again!!!

Yes, but we give that sentiment plenty of ammunition. Is that only two BP from all Inter-pros this year? Then, you can only expect comments like that. If he says it often enough it will stick, only one way of stopping it!

I think after the good run, everyone thought that was the year done.

Perhaps but he came up with this line before the game kicked off!

Maybe I'm missing something but I didn't think defense was *that* bad today. To my eyes we seem to be playing a drift defense system and that requires giving up some yards to the opposition before they run out of space/into touch. I don't think its a great system however for the most part it worked. The first try I put down to rustiness from Faloon - the second and third came from individual mistakes and opportunism, 9 times out of 10 McKeon's knock on in the opposition 22 doesn't become a try but it did today.

eta: without doubt the worst linesman performance I've seen this season, perhaps ever.

phatguerilla wrote:

columoc wrote:

phatguerilla wrote: Dara o'briain just dropped the development province tag again!!!

Yes, but we give that sentiment plenty of ammunition. Is that only two BP from all Inter-pros this year? Then, you can only expect comments like that. If he says it often enough it will stick, only one way of stopping it!

I think after the good run, everyone thought that was the year done.

Perhaps but he came up with this line before the game kicked off!

Maybe I'm missing something but I didn't think defense was *that* bad today. To my eyes we seem to be playing a drift defense system and that requires giving up some yards to the opposition before they run out of space/into touch. I don't think its a great system however for the most part it worked. The first try I put down to rustiness from Faloon - the second and third came from individual mistakes and opportunism, 9 times out of 10 McKeon's knock on in the opposition 22 doesn't become a try but it did today.

eta: without doubt the worst linesman performance I've seen this season, perhaps ever.

True but the good teams punish these mistakes almost every time. In fairness Connacht's first try was inches away from an intercept and turned into a fine try so I suppose its part of the risk you take but if you make these individual errors you need to scramble better. The try from Williams chip ahead was just too easy.

Connacht had two similar chances, one Poolman turned over on our line and we had the numbers but didn't make it count, then Munster killed the ball to allow them to re-organise.

The 2nd one Munster managed to scramble from a ball that bounced into Poolman's hand and he knocked it on. Ultimately its the ability to scramble and take these sort of openings that can make the difference.

As against Ulster last week, we didn't get the balance right, playing the way Connacht are turnovers can't happen too often or you are at 6's and 7's and by not committing enough men at the breakdown we are always leaving ourselves open for such turnovers.

Well said!