3 big losses unfortunately.

Big day for Jarvis. Nikora would have been regarded as a safer choice but Jarvis has to view this as make or break time for him. He has shown in patches he can perform but his general play has been far too inconsistent to make him a serious option. Nobody has nailed down the 2nd choice number 10 jersey. Tomorrow he has to prove his doubters wrong. If not he may have to start looking towards a career at a lower level.

Really just hope to keep this one competitive. They are in good form in front of an expectant home crowd. We need to get to 20 minutes still in contention and take it from there.

Big opportunity for Jarvis to prove himself and earn some more game time in the future. Marmion has played a lot of rugby this season so I'm confident he'll do well as long as the pack holds its own. If they're getting pushed back on top of him he'll be in trouble especially with no George. I hope TOH got the message and will improve the effort accordingly.

salmson wrote: Not to mention that with George out we have only 2 lineout options (Macca and Browne).

After the last quins game I would imagine/hope they avoid the lineout as much as possible.

salmson wrote: Not to mention that with George out we have only 2 lineout options (Macca and Browne).

McKeown will be used also, gotta box clever though...

Not to mention that with George out we have only 2 lineout options (Macca and Browne).

its amazing but that team with parks at 10 is a very good team.

without him though!! i shudder at the thought!

even with mia at 10 it looks weak.

ummm, wrote: CONNACHT (v Harlequins): Robbie Henshaw; Tiernan O'Halloran, Eoin Griffin, David McSharry, Fetu'u Vainikolo; Matthew Jarvis, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White (capt), Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, Andrew Browne, Johnny O'Connor, Eoin McKeon.

Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, Brett Wilkinson, Ronan Loughney, Michael Kearney, Eoghan Grace, Paul O'Donohoe, Miah Nikora, James Loxton.


Big holes appearing. Will be interesting to see how Marmion gets on without Dan's help. I fear a spanking.

Indeed, Jarvis has still got his rookie badge on, at 27 Fet's is the senior statesman in the backs at.

Danny Care will be gobbing off from the start to try and rattle Kieran, so essential that they need to stay composed at all times especially earl on...

What's the deal with Poolman? No mention of him being injured in either the team announcement or the injury update a few days back.

Edit: In the injured list at bottom of website announcement.

CONNACHT (v Harlequins): Robbie Henshaw; Tiernan O'Halloran, Eoin Griffin, David McSharry, Fetu'u Vainikolo; Matthew Jarvis, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White (capt), Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, Andrew Browne, Johnny O'Connor, Eoin McKeon.

Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, Brett Wilkinson, Ronan Loughney, Michael Kearney, Eoghan Grace, Paul O'Donohoe, Miah Nikora, James Loxton.


Big holes appearing. Will be interesting to see how Marmion gets on without Dan's help. I fear a spanking.

Johnny O'Connor returns to the Connacht team for Saturday's Heineken Cup clash against Harlequins at The Stoop.
O'Connor starts at openside, while Eoin McKeon, who this week signed a two year extended contract with the province, moves to No 8, replacing the injured George Naoupu.
There are two other changes to the side that beat the Dragons last weekend. In the back line, Tiernan O'Halloran starts on the right wing, while Fetu'u Vainikolo is named at No 11.
Matthew Jarvis replaces Dan Parks at out-half in what will be his third Heineken Cup game. The 22-year-old came off the bench in the back-to-back fixtures against French side Biarritz.
Miah Nikora, who returned to training last week following injury, is named on the bench along with replacement winger James Loxton.

Connacht team to face Harlequins:
(15-9) R Henshaw, T O'Halloran, E Griffin, D McSharry, F Vainikolo, M Jarvis, Marmion,
(1- D Buckley, J Harris-Wright, N White (capt), M Swift, M McCarthy, A Browne, J O'Connor, E McKeon
Replacements: E Reynecke, B Wilkinson, R Loughney, M Kearney, E Grace, P O'Donohoe, M Nikora, J Loxton

Have you got the line up, MTD?

Disaster. This will be a very long day at the office

George and Dan miss out.

McKeon and Jarvis start.



Ouch!

According to the RTE website:

Mata Fifita and Kyle Tonetti are both expected to be available for Connacht’s Heineken Cup clash with Harlequins on Saturday 12 January.

Can't see either of them been involved but good to know there fit and will be available for other games. Expect big things from both. Fifita is fighting for a contract and Tonetti has done bugger all with the amount of injuries he's shipped so he's got something to prove.

swift4prez wrote: any thing planned by the clan, someone else where on the forum that the salthill hotel has some thing planned but couldnt get detail. doubt id go there, to far if im honest, prefer staying in town, if nothing is planned might go to buskers, more impressed there then the skeff

Yeah it's the Salthill Hotel. I know it's a bit out of town, so understand if people can't make it. They donated a great prize to the Club's Night last year and we wanted to also try and hit the "settled suburban" crowd with this one as well, see if there is much scope for more events out those areas.

Marmion, Mc Sharry & Swifty were back training today according to Irish Times.
Still waiting on George