Anybody know if this is being streamed.

PS : 19 Ali Birch (ex Ulster 2009-13) is IQ too... Must worth a look if someone goes to the ground on Sat

Agreed. He was well thought of in Ulster and had a serious rep in underage but there was concerns that he might be to small for first team level. Left like Faloon to get game time as Chris Henry has the 7 shirt in Ulster nailed down. Haven't being following his career in England but him on the bench isn't a great indicator.

paratro wrote: Agree connachta it is a good looking team. would be good to see them pull this one off. Still going to take a good effort from all.

Yeah, hopefully last week's beating will have the lads focused on what's required to get the job done.

menacethedenis wrote: Why on earth does this kick off half way through our Heineken Cup game?

Going into the Dáil Bar to watch Connacht in the Heineken Cup.

Really annoying that this match is on at the same time. How does this make sense?

Glad to see Keating back in Ireland, might be a solution for Duffy/Parks retirements

Rotherham Titans: 15 Michael Keating, 14 Jamie Broadley, 13 Joel Gill, 12 Jack Roberts, 11 Curtis Wilson, 10 Dallan Murphy, 9 Charlie Mulchrone (Capt.), 1 Mike Dias, 2 Tom Cruse, 3 Colin Quigley, 4 Barney Maddison, 5 Ben Thomas, 6 Alex Rieder, 7 Jack Preece, 8 Ed Williamson.

Replacements: 16 Ben Sowrey, 17 Mark Tampin, 18 Dan Sanderson, 19 Ali Birch, 20 Laurence Pearce, 21 Dan White, 22 Lloyd Hayes.

PS : 19 Ali Birch (ex Ulster 2009-13) is IQ too... Must worth a look if someone goes to the ground on Sat

Agree connachta it is a good looking team. would be good to see them pull this one off. Still going to take a good effort from all.

good looking team isn't it?

Rael is only here on a one year development contract, what does that mean exactly do they get paid for taking him on for Munster or are his wages paid by Munster?

I presume its a cost saving measure. Lights would be required for any starting time after 4 at this stage.

Real on bench behind heffernan! Interesting.

Why on earth does this kick off half way through our Heineken Cup game?

ummm, wrote: I'd have thought Carr would travel with the Senior team as 24th man. Very surprised to see him there.

Must have given it to TO'H

I thought Frank had fallen off the side of the earth given the only thing I'd heard about him recently was that a baby arrived. Good to see him back in action.

I'd have thought Carr would travel with the Senior team as 24th man. Very surprised to see him there.

Team announcement below.

Connacht Eagles v Rotherham Titans

15 Darragh Leader
14 Fionn Carr
13 Rory Parata
12 Brian Murphy
11 Steve Macauley
10 Jack Carty (captain)
9 Frank Murphy
1 Denis Buckley
2 Dave Heffernan
3 Finlay Bealham
4 Dave Nolan
5 Mick Kearney
6 Conor Kindregan
7 James Connolly
8 Danny Qualter

Replacements :

16 James Rael
17 Saba Meunargia
18 Ultane Dillane
19 Eoghan Masterson
20 Marcus Walsh
21 Tadhg Leader
22 David Panter

Moving on to next weekend, another tough game awaits, Rotherham at home. From what I can tell they have played 4, won 3 and have 17 points in the championship to date picking up try bonus points in each of their games including in a narrow loss to league leaders London Welsh to sit just one off the top and they started the B&I Cup with a home win 12-11 against Bedford last Saturday.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/the-engl...championship/results

Ali Birch, Sean Scanlon and Michael Keating are 3 of the Irish players on their books and Keating at full back and Birch have been among the tries. I remember them catching us on the line in a pre-season friendly a few years back, prior to that maybe 8/9 years back I think we beat them well over there with Danny Riordan getting 4 tries.

I'd love to go to this one but think with the Heineken Cup game clashing with it along with the result last week the attendance is likely to be poor. I think if they pushed this out until 3.30 or 4 they might have got a better crowd.

Maybe they are a little young. But they need the experience. As Pat Lam says "If your good enough Your old enough" but you cant beat experience.

Agreed they need to see the level they have to attain to. When there comfortable at that level its on to the Rabo.

Remember also Rory, Caolin and Saba were playing and training with the under 20 squad for the inter pros and then last week they were in Dublin with the Ireland Under 20's and then bought back Wednesday evening to go to Wales.

When you mention that and also guys like McSharry are just coming back it makes sense that a spanking would be handed out.

I like the fact Connacht are giving their academy players time at the next level. Sure if senior players need the run out then give that to them but the most important thing is the long term development of the youth for the betterment of the Province.

Also agree. The chances of us winning this trophy are slim and the whole reason it is there is for DEVELOPMENT. I think the B&I Cup has done a lot for Irish Rugby with players POM for Munster and Moore for Leinster cutting there teeth in it.