From scrum.com

If Connacht beat Saracens and both Castres and Exeter win, they will take their place in the final eight for the first time.
Read more at www.espnscrum.com/heineken-cup-2013-14/r...#uL1S0MRy084BI0TU.99

This correct?

FACECUTTR wrote: have Connacht to win at 20/1. Easy money !!!

Waiting for a quote on betfair. Hoping to get better than 20/1

I'm going to assume that Carty is carrying some sort of knock. It makes no sense otherwise to have Leader on the bench as cover for Parks. Carty just put in two fairly composed performances at outhalf and Leader on the other hand was getting down on himself in the Zebre game after a couple of kicks to touch and later on muffed a couple of high ball takes. For me Carty is playing with greater confidence ATM and deserves the spot on the bench.

As for the rest of the lineup, it's no surprise to me especially with McKeon out. Cup rugby against the Aviva table toppers you're going to want your experienced campaigners so in come Parks & Duffy. It might be different if Connacht had nothing to play for. Then you might give Carty and Leader a start to get the experience. I also think you don't risk starting Ronaldson just back from injury so Parks is the only option and at fullback again Duffy is the default. From the sounds of Lam Henshaw will be playing fairly exclusively at centre and you wouldn't throw TOH back there with the amount of time he has had at Fullback at this level. I'm sure if the lads execute the game plan Lam has put in place this could be a tight game. Too many penalties and mistakes and it could be a long afternoon.

have Connacht to win at 20/1. Easy money !!!

cormac wrote: It would probably mean TOH being replaced by Parks on the bench, with Carty starting ?

Nah, Dan will start or he won't be in the 23.

Lets hope its all part of Lams master plan, I wouldnt have dropped Carty for an out of form Parks.
His been a liability during the year but maybe there is one big game in him ala Rog last year.

Charlie at ten has to be hit early, A feck it hit them all early but no penalties.
Sew it into them
Cant wait

salmson wrote: Carty is not in the Eagles squad. What price a "late change" at flyhalf?

Just saw the Eagles squad & thought the same.
Maybe a mystery ilness for Dan means he can't be expetced to start.
It would probably mean TOH being replaced by Parks on the bench, with Carty starting ?

Carty is not in the Eagles squad. What price a "late change" at flyhalf?

Have to say I'm disappointed with the line up. I REALLY hope I'm proved wrong and the likes of Parks and Duffy have a huge game, but on form and looking at it so far this year that's unlikely. Having no cover for 10 is tantamount to insanity! I doubt there will be an 'injury' tomorrow, more than likely thats the squad we have tomorrow. Huge ask of young Daragh Leader to potentially play 10 in a game of this magnitude. Jack Carty does not deserve to be dropped either. After that the pack is ok, Swifty/Browne/Muldoon will wallop anything that moves. the backline is very MEH for me. Griff is out of position , but has performed admirably at 12 with McSharry out. Himself and Robbie will be used to playing well with each other at this stage.

Lam better have some tactical master plan up his sleeve, because that lineup does not inspire me with huge confidence. Looking at the Sarries line up, they are a good side and are rightly red hot favorites for this game. Having said that, i still wouldn't have fears for many of our guys tomorrow. Will be very interesting to see how the front row gets on, could be crucial in keeping us in the game and maybe even winning a penalty or two. Nathan White can hold his own against almost anyone Imo.

Looking forward to the game and i hope I'm wrong to be negative, but not having cover at 10 is lunacy.

Crazy crazy backs, both starting and bench

One thing we know about lam is he is full off game plans

fatgav wrote: Any chance this is mind games from Lam? Maybe I'm clutching at straws here, but one assumes Carty and/or Ronaldson have travelled. Could one be added to the bench in the event of a 'late injury'?

Thought the same but if so then it has to be Parks that gets pulled? Putting Carty or Ronaldson on the bench isn't going to be a game changer. Leader obviously filled in at 10 against Toulouse but I can't believe Lam fancies him ahead of either Carty or Ronaldson on that display.

ConnachtCows wrote: I'm extremely jealous at the moment. I should be sipping on a pint in the airport. Damn you Christmas. You took all my money

You had your chance - stay with me and get pissed up for cheap, but no you had to go and blow all your cash on sweets and chocolate over Christmas

I'm extremely jealous at the moment. I should be sipping on a pint in the airport. Damn you Christmas. You took all my money

To be honest, I kinda expected Parks to start for a game plan that has a chance to beat Sarries, but no real back up to change things up if Parks isn't firing is bizarre.

The rest of the team looks good. Nice bulky pack to match them up there.

Still... getting a bit anxious now

there must be something sneaky planned here with no backup 10.

As for their team, the exclusion of Farrell really is mystifying, I always thought Hodgson was a poor distributor of the ball and an average kicker.

The Sarries back row doesn't fill me with fear, to be honest. Their pack however, does, but I imagine with Hodgson, they'll be looking to move the ball around a bit more than they would with Farrell, who for my money is a poor man's ROG.

Billy V is a great ball carrier with real pace, Kruis and Borthwick solid lineout options and Brown is a good scavenger.

I think Sarries (or The Borg as they're also known, due to their style of play) will win, but we're in with a shout. Absolutely mystified by no back up 10.


Getting THE FEAR now. 'Hon Connacht!