connachta wrote: Guys, We've not to believe in it beyond reason, the most probable scenario is a large Sarries victory (English 2011 champion!!!)... Would be happy with an honourable exit , with one or two tries

I think a number of players will have learned a lot since the last time they played Saracens. I'd be a lot more confident if McSharry was at 12 but griff/henshaw at least have some experience together. We'll miss Poolman as well for sure. Connacht won't be able to catch Saracens out with a kicking game this time, I hope there are some good preplanned stuff in the back pocket, a return to the maul perhaps, anything to catch them offguard and put Saracens on the back foot. They've some very good individuals but I don't think their pack is any great shakes (unless they were missing some key players the last time around?) and their backs are pretty one paced (not that Connacht have been putting together back moves for the laugh but they've shown glimpses).

connachta wrote: Guys, We've not to believe in it beyond reason, the most probable scenario is a large Sarries victory (English 2011 champion!!!)... Would be happy with an honourable exit , with one or two tries

Get out! No room for sensible realism on this thread!

Guys, We've not to believe in it beyond reason, the most probable scenario is a large Sarries victory (English 2011 champion!!!)... Would be happy with an honourable exit , with one or two tries

Hard 1 at 15 but TOH might be hungry and could put in a savage shift so put himself back in contention for a regular team place or indeed in the shop window.

Do people here think Rodney should start this game? He was savage against Saracens last time, now with the call up to Ireland squad he should be really hungry to step up even more. Plus it might aggravate White a bit and see some anger off the bench around 50 minutes.
Other than that I'd be pretty keen on Rory's team there except Carty for Parks, I was unconvinced of Muldoon at 8 in the past but if he and Browne go around the pitch tackling everything in sight it could be a good pick.
I'd also like to see Henshaw stepping in at 1st/2nd receiver against Saracens, mixing things up a bit more than Connacht have previously. I've said this before but I don't think Griffin is effective as a bosher but Henshaw could be and always looks for the offload.

We could badly do with a quality 2nd choice no9!! pretty light at 10 aswel Olly Barkley has recently been released from his contract what a signing he would be!! for Saracens I would go with 15.TOH/Leader 14 Carr 13 Henshaw 12 Griffin 11 Healy 10 Parks 9 Marmion 8 Mul/George 7 Heenan 6 Browne 4 Swifty 5 Clarke 1Wilkinson 2 JWH 3.Rodney

friday night game effecting us, northampton vs castre.

castre have 9 players starting tommorrow that started at home vs leinster.
16 of the 23 were in the match day vs leinster. rory kockott is on the bench. good news for us

nothampton

Two changes have been made from the side which beat Ospreys in their penultimate pool game in Swansea on Sunday.
Lee Dickson comes in at scrum-half with Fa’atoina Autagavaia, who came on in the wins over Harlequins and the Ospreys, making his first start at full back.
Kahn Fotuali’i drops to the bench, with Gareth Denman and Ken Pisi returning to the match day squad.

Forecast for Saturday lunchtime is around 9c and overcast, with a wee bit of rain thrown in. It's pretty much like that here now, pretty mild for a January in London to be honest. Should hopefully allow for a great game of rugby.

I can't give a forecast without ending: Malin Head to Mizen Head, fair, 1080, falling slowly.....

Zzippy wrote: Team and subs I'd like to see on Saturday: Lam needs to light a fire under McKeon's arse and get him playing to his potential, but George has been no great shakes either lately so Eoin gets the nod. IMO Duffy has been beyond poor, same for Parks, so no starts for them, I wouldn't even have Duffy in the squad.

Wilko
JHW
White
Kearney
Clarke
Mul
Heenan
McKeon
Marmion
Carty
Healy
Ronaldson
Griffin
Carr
Henshaw

Henry
Buckley
Dave
Browne
George
POD
Parks
TOH

I don't like the idea of breaking up the Griffin/Henshaw partnership. They have been good together. I also think if we want Henshaw to develop, it'd be better for him not to be constantly switching positions.

Zzippy wrote: Team and subs I'd like to see on Saturday: Lam needs to light a fire under McKeon's arse and get him playing to his potential, but George has been no great shakes either lately so Eoin gets the nod. IMO Duffy has been beyond poor, same for Parks, so no starts for them, I wouldn't even have Duffy in the squad.

Wilko
JHW
White
Kearney
Clarke
Mul
Heenan
McKeon
Marmion
Carty
Healy
Ronaldson
Griffin
Carr
Henshaw

Henry
Buckley
Dave
Browne
George
POD
Parks
TOH

With Ronaldson back, I completely agree with your team except Buckley ahead of wilko, too much penalised at scrumtime

Personally feel that neither Carty nor Ronaldson have had a lot of game time and either could pull up early either through cramp or just not being able to handle the full 80 of a Heineken game against Saracens. Would prefer to see either one coming off the bench to give continuity to the gameplan and ensure Connacht don't suddenly start playing really deep which is what is likely to happen when Parks comes on.
There's the chance Parks will come out with a Rog v Clermont style one big last performance but its hard to see happening.

sensible selection but what's the point of having 3 outhalves in the squad? You could drop Parks for Swift and go with a 6-2 split.

Team and subs I'd like to see on Saturday: Lam needs to light a fire under McKeon's arse and get him playing to his potential, but George has been no great shakes either lately so Eoin gets the nod. IMO Duffy has been beyond poor, same for Parks, so no starts for them, I wouldn't even have Duffy in the squad.

Wilko
JHW
White
Kearney
Clarke
Mul
Heenan
McKeon
Marmion
Carty
Healy
Ronaldson
Griffin
Carr
Henshaw

Henry
Buckley
Dave
Browne
George
POD
Parks
TOH

By my reckoning Lam should be able to name a decent side from the players available with only Faloon, McSharry and, probably the biggest loss IMO, Poolman among the injured that would figure in Connacht's best side. Still decisions to be made on what horse for the course, getting some combinations right and maybe a gamble on Carty or not.

Thanks Rogue I thought I copied in the Fatita bit in but it didn't show.

Just in case anyone else was lost, Facecuttr is talking about Fifita. He picked up an injury in the Eagles game and is unavailable.

Squad update

www.connachtrugby.ie/squad-update-ahead-...s-game/#ConnachtNews