Not surprised by the front row changes hopefully the starting 15 were least affected by the flu. More than happy to see Buckley Henry White coming on as impact and if Toulouse have put their heavier props on the bench then its also a good call imo.

Are Toulouse playing 3 full backs? any lax kicking will be seriously punished, cross field kicks a la Saracens game (which are less likely to work without poolman anyways) would be very dangerous imo.

Beauxis is so blech horrible to watch, Toulouse most likely to be trying to milk Connacht for penalties even within their own half. Think it was Horgan on the second captains even before the team announcements predicted they would look to keep it extremely tight and just go for penalties rather than go wide.

Going to be extremely nervous!

Where is being shown in Brussels?...have been trying to find somewhere showing it with no success..

Ronan Loughney Interview
Clan Bar
5:15pm


Ronan Loughney will be giving his thoughts on last weeks match and the upcoming return fixture in the Clan Bar 45 minutes before KO. Loughney was unlucky enough to pick up an injury which kept him out of last weeks game and this weeks game, and will be talking about the disappointment of missing out on that, the elation of seeing his team-mates pick up a famous victory and what Connacht will need to do to repeat that at home.

As expected wholesale changes from Toulouse starting XV
More mobile pack, Gear dropped to bench. Nyanga back, Tekori on bench.

Christopher Tolofua
Schalk Ferreira
Census Johnston
Romain Millo-Chluski
Yoann Maestri
Yannick Nyanga
Thierry Dusautoir
Louis Picamoles
Jean-Marc Doussain
Lionel Beauxis
Maxime Medard
Yann David
Florian Fritz
Yoann Huget
Clement Poitrenaud
Subs
Chiliboy Ralepelle
Gurthro Steenkamp
Yohan Montes
Iosefa Tekori
Gillian Galan
Gael Fickou
Hosea Gear
Sébastian Bézy

Bring it on

theCulk wrote:

ConnachtBOB wrote: Getting very excited about this now lads. Flying home tonight for it. First home game in a while... don't think too much work is going to get done today!

Any more info on the Flu story? The Brother was talking to Mul at the Dail thing on Wed evening. He said that it was working its way through the camp but didn't say much more than that. A bit worrying

Heard through the grapevine Marmion was in hospital with it. See ya tomorrow. Bring your drinking hat

It's already on!

I looked at many weather forecasts until I found one I liked, and I think there is some scope for optimism. It's unanimous that tomorrow morning will be manky, but it seems the rain and wind might ease later. Hopefully it's dry by kick off, for atmosphere reasons alone. Come on Connacht!

I shall be in my local in Brussels with my drinking hat and my nail biting underpants

ConnachtBOB wrote: Getting very excited about this now lads. Flying home tonight for it. First home game in a while... don't think too much work is going to get done today!

Any more info on the Flu story? The Brother was talking to Mul at the Dail thing on Wed evening. He said that it was working its way through the camp but didn't say much more than that. A bit worrying

Heard through the grapevine Marmion was in hospital with it. See ya tomorrow. Bring your drinking hat

ConnachtCows wrote:
I can only imagine that Nathan White isn't 100%

Yeah, White was one of the ones I heard was suffering alright. Hopefully there wont be any damage done by the time he comes on.

Line out is huge tomorrow. If we can kick better and our LO is as good as last week, it'll be a big weapon

menacethedenis wrote: Connacht line-up v Toulouse

15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Fionn Carr
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Dave McSharry
11. Matt Healy
10. Dan Parks
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Mick Kearney
5. Craig Clarke (captain)
6. John Muldoon
7. Jake Heenan
8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements:

16. Sean Henry
17. Denis Buckley
18. Nathan White
19. Andrew Browne
20. George Naoupu
21. Frank Murphy
22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Gavin Duffy

JHW and Rodders starting... This is not the exact same team as last week. I therefore protest. Shirley we should be pandering to superstition!
Edit... and McKeon as well.

I think it speaks volumes for Rodney's progress this season that I no longer facepalm when I see his name on the teamsheet!

ConnachtBOB wrote: Eoin Mc rewarded for his massive performance from the bench. Bit worried about Rodney starting though

I can only imagine that Nathan White isn't 100%
We saw last week, how quick Lam was willing to react and make changes. If Rodney is letting us down, hopefully he will react in a similiar manner.

Feel a bit bad for Henry. Thought he played well last week.

Anyway, lets get ready for an unbelievable back to back victory over Toulouse

Fear is there, definitely. But I like to think ST are even more afeart!

Eoin Mc rewarded for his massive performance from the bench. Bit worried about Rodney starting though

I watched the game last night too - kicking out of hand was poor, first up tackling wasn't good enough and we over-committed in the rucks a few times.

If we can improve on those (particularly the kicking, which will no doubt be better in Galway), we'll be doing well - our organisation was excellent, and we bossed the second half in terms of creativity.

I'm having strange Hope/Fear palpitations about this. As pinky so eloquently pointed out, there's a stage where fear of losing turns into fear of winning - no doubt I'll be kicked in the nuts by one or the other. If it's a win, I'll take it gladly...

We caught them on the hop over there. They will want to prove a point now because this is the game that will get the most scrutiny. As was said before we need to find a level higher than over there. Be within a score at 60 mins and we will do it again!!