Connacht vs Cardiff Sept 1st 17:00

Rugby is back, Hurray.

I'll try to do one of these for every game this season (which means I'll forget in about 3 weeks)

<strong>Details</strong>

Connacht vs Cardiff
The Sportsground, Sept 1st 17:00 KO

Current League Positions:
3rd Place Connacht Rugby
2nd Place Cardiff Blues

Previous Meetings in Galway
Oct 29 2011 Connacht 20 - 26 Cardiff
Apr 15 2011 Connacht 12 - 26 Cardiff
Sept 18 2009 Connacht 18 - 16 Cardiff
Mar 6th 2009 Connacht 14 - 19 Cardiff
May 2nd 2008 Connacht 11 - 39

Changes in Personal
<strong>Connacht:</strong>
Players In:
Dan Parks from Cardiff Blues
Nathan White from Leinster
Willie Faloon from Ulster
Jason Harris-Wright from Bristol
Brian Murphy from Galwegians
Danie Poolman from Stormers
Matt Healy from Lansdowne
Mata Fafita from Sligo FC
JP Cooney from Garryowen

Players Out:
Ray Ofisa
Henry Fa'afili
Dermot Murphy
Dylan Rogers
Jamie Stephens
Brian Tuohy
Niall O'Connor

<strong>Cardiff</strong>

Players In:
Benoît Bourrust from Perpignan
Robin Copeland from Rotherham
Andy Kyriacou from Ulster
Rob Lewis from London Welsh
Campese Ma'afu from West Harbour Pirates
Jason Tovey from Newport Gwent Dragons
Lou Reed from Scarlets

Players Out:
Ben Blair
Rhys Downes
Gethin Jenkins
Casey Laulala
T. Rhys Thomas
Ryan Tyrrell
Dan Parks
Richie Rees
John Yapp
Deiniol Jones
Maama Molitika
Paul Tito
Martyn Williams
Xavier Rush

RaboDirect Pro 12 Preview
http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchcentre/14454.php

SportsNews Ireland preview
http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/rugby_irish/connacht-rugby-elwood-bullish986986986/

Irish Independent news regarding injuries
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/elwood-sweats-on-parks-fitness-3213339.html

I'll add previews during the week

Connacht Team:
Connacht XV

15. Gavin Duffy (Captain)
14. Tiernan O’Halloran
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Mata Fifita
11. Fetu’u Vainikolo
10. Miah Nikora
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Ethienne Reynecke
3. Ronan Loughney
4. Michael Swift
5. Mike McCarthy
6. John Muldoon
7. Johnny O’Connor
8. George Naoupu

Replacements (from):

16. Adrian Flavin
17. Rodney Ah You
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Dave Gannon
20. Willie Faloon
21. David Moore
22. Matthew Jarvis
23. Robbie Henshaw

Cardiff Team:

15. Dan Fish 14. Harry Robinson 13.Gavin Evans 12. Gareth Davies 11. Tom James 10. Ceri Sweeney 9. Lewis Jones

8. Andries Pretorius (c) 7. Josh Navidi 6. Rory Watts- Jones 5. James Down 4. Robin Copeland 3. Taufa'ao Filise 2. Andi Kyriacou 1. Thomas Davies


16. Rhys Williams 17. Beniot Borrust 18. Nathan Trevett 19. Lou Reed 20. Luke Hamilton 21. Lloyd Williams 22. Cory Allen 23. Tom Williams 24. Owen Williams

Seems a load of tickets were sold during the Power Hour last Friday. Thats a good sign. Hopefully the place will be rocking.
Gotta get up there nice and early, to pick out my spot in the Clan. 10m line, College Road end. Oh, how I've missed you.
Must squeeze in a pint or two in O'Connells first though

Can't wait for the season to begin. I suppose we won't see anything resembling a lineup until Linley McKenzie puts it the Advertiser/Times on Thursday. Given the injury list, I'd imagine the backs will be Something Completely Different.

Any word on the Parks injury? I've just spotted him at 14/1 on Paddypower for top Pro12 points scorer if anyone's feeling confident.

The ref if that lovely Scotchman who had the Ospreys game at the Sportsground last year and the Cardiff away fixture. Looking back over the match reports, this may be a cause for concern.

Anyone know what the word is on White or Ah You? Otherwise Reily could be starting at 3. Apparently EE was talking with the IRFU to try and get some of our guys back early but when you consider that the only player to get some gametime was Loughney the chances of him starting are slim.

CONNACHT RUGBY NEWS: Ahead of Connacht’s opening game in the RaboDirect PRO12 against the Cardiff Blues, Head Coach Eric Elwood is feeling bullish about securing the maximum four points of offer in Saturday’s home tie.

Speaking at this evenings press conference at the Sportsground, a focused Elwood and captain Gavin Duffy, were resolute in their stance they were not looking any further than the season opener and, to sum up their confident attitude, neither player nor coach ever mentioned a simple bonus try win – It was always ‘four points on Saturday’.

http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/rugby_irish/connacht-rugby-elwood-bullish986986986/

Robbo wrote: The ref if that lovely Scotchman who had the Ospreys game at the Sportsground last year and the Cardiff away fixture. Looking back over the match reports, this may be a cause for concern.

You know the season is back when the referee agenda comes back to the threads.

Haven't been impressed by this guy any time we've had him ref us. Opening games are scrappy so hopefully he'll use common sense and try to let the game develop.

Either way, its up to Connacht to adjust to this lads reffing style. We've seen enough of him now to know what he's about and this is where Conor McPhilips should be earning his wages. Our discipline has improved over the past couple of seasons but with Tovey now in their ranks, anything from just inside their 10m line in is kickable so it'll be important to show discipline from the start again.

Nobody really knows what team we'll have out. Cardiff have lost some top players but made a couple of astute signings but if we aren't too injury ravaged I believe its a good chance to keep our strong opening day record going with a narrow victory.

based on info at the time i think are 15 is gonna be this:

1. Denis Buckley
2. Adrian Flavin
3. Peter Reily (White/Ah You - injured & Loughs -rested)
4. Michael Swift
5. David Gannon
6. John Muldoon (c)
7. Johnny O'Connor
8. George Naopou
9. Dave Moore (Murphy and O'Donoghue - injured)
10. Miah Nikora (Parks - injured)
11. Fetu Vainikolo
12. Dave McSharry
13. Rob Hemshaw (Griffin injured, Poolman to soon to start, Tonetti?)
14. Mark McCrea
15. Tiernan O'Halloran (Duffy - rested)

I'd really like to know the state of our injuries but the dead site never up-dated on Ah You going off or the state of Tonetti's, White's or Parks injuries either. That said we have a strong backline and Moore/Nikora know each other if Reily can hold his own then we have a good shout.

Looks like we might have Loughney, Duffy and McCarthy back for this one

"Elwood is helped by the availability of Irish squad members Ronan Loughney, Gavin Duffy and Mike McCarthy, although loosehead prop Brett Wilkinson will sit this one out under the player welfare management plan."

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/elwood-sw...fitness-3213339.html

So the injuries mightnt be as bad as we thought. Seems the website did nothing wrong in reporting injuries, that might not rule out players.

Surprised we got Loughney back Happy but surprised. Means we should have a strong XV against Cardiff. The centre partnership is going to be interesting though.

Great hope we will see Macca and Swifty back in the second row

I sent this to Danie Poolman the last day on got this reply
Derek C @XVanbasten 25 Aug
@DaniePoolman You going to be fit for next Saturday

@DaniePoolman
@XVanbasten yes I am already back on the field!

good to see he is over his slight injury

connolly wrote: I sent this to Danie Poolman the last day on got this reply
Derek C @XVanbasten 25 Aug
@DaniePoolman You going to be fit for next Saturday

@DaniePoolman
@XVanbasten yes I am already back on the field!

good to see he is over his slight injury

It will be interesting to see the squad thats announced this week (if they bother, I seem to remember they stopped doing it about half way through last season, and just announced the 23 on Friday).
I imagine it will be pretty strong. I can see a lot of the younger players, who got gametime in the preseason, will disappear again from the 23