www.southwalesargus.co.uk/spo...on_25/?ref=rss

Bad news as Dragons are more than ready, but (if we can say so) Faletau and their centre Leach injured..

Was at the Wasps friendly, and a couple of things to note:

Dave McShaz dotted down in the first half but the ref who was standing on the wrong side of the play and awarded he'd been held up instead of 5 points (Fourdogs wouldn't let me protest too much!).

One of Wasps tries in the 2nd half was the most blantant bit of obstruction from a maul but again the ref was in a poor position and couldn't see it.

Not that I'm claiming that would have changed the result but these are a couple of key events that haven't been reported elsewhere from what I've seen. Wasps went to touch on the majority of their pens while we went for posts. That said we dominated and controlled the game for the most part and there were a lot of positives to take out the game.

One thing that really stood out to me was the speed of Carty's hands, his distribution is class IMO and I love the way he is constantly looking to threaten the line. My heart dropped a bit to see Porter was on kicking detail but in fairness to Carty, Madigan isn't long after claiming kicking responsibility.

Another thing was the size of Mick Kearney's arse! Wasn't sure if it was just me but he seems to have bulked a bit over the summer, hard to keep in mind he's still only 23.

Layden and Leader both impressed me with what i seen and McShaz seemed to be getting back to his fringe of Ireland squad best of the year before last. Was really nice to see Eoin Griffin down there supporting his former team mates as well.

Had a couple of quick words with McShaz after the final whistle just to make sure I wasn't seeing things in the first half. He mentioned how much he was looking forward to the Probables v Possibles warm up match at the season ticket launch and hinted it would be fairly tasty as everyone is trying to nail down a starting position. If anyone wasn't sure if it was worth their while heading up to this the impression I got from McShaz was that it's going to be very intresting.

Pre-season games, unlikely there is anything other than analysis footage available internally...

anyone know of a link for the highlights of the wasps game ???

Connacht team seems decent, 7-3, 30 minutes gone, try chance missed for the Green

I hope your'e right about Ronaldson, last year was his first year as a Pro and especially at Out-half it's a steep learning curve, even if he struggles I would like to see him get into the team at out-half for the first 2 or 3 games in the pro12, if he can learn how to control the game using the kicking game then he has all the other attributes. both nikora and carty are physically weaker defensively. Lam must trust in them not to have pushed for a replacement for Parks

Hope your right on Heenan, but at least we have depth there. At the Clermont game, did either of our 8s impress you?

Faloon and McKeon were very discreet on the pitch, Heenan was still in holiday at this moment
With a 42-7 defeat, hard to find someone convincing...but would say Naoupu was better behind the scrum than last year (took the ball out of it despite pressure)

Ronaldson far ahead of Nikora for sure
Heffernan ok but no more with the throws (something like 5/7)
Porter 0/2 kicks for posts but 50 meters kicks and he had the distance by far
Leader converted the try from the touchline (just in front of me) and was more consistent at 13 than O'Leary
TOH and Carr : catastrophies
Buckley : good as ever, one great turnover

pinky wrote:

The Connacht Clan will be located in the Panache Stand

Nice work 4D.

Well definitely two/three of us anyway, though I may sneak into the Terrace at some point as I'm old skool...

Anyone else heading Wycombe way..

Wasps name squad for Connacht Rugby

Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young has announced his squad for the Club’s second pre-season friendly, against Connacht Rugby at Adams Park on Saturday 23rd August, 2.30pm kick off.

Following last Sunday’s 38-24 win against London Welsh, Dai Young said: “I was pleased with the second half performance against London Welsh. I think we showed we are a really good team when we play with tempo.

“This weekend we again need to focus on tempo, accuracy at the set piece, holding onto the ball for longer periods and being more disciplined.”

As expected, Young has introduced many of Wasps’ internationals on the bench, having returned later to pre-season training following international duty.

“As I said last week, the idea is to give as many players as possible game time during these pre-season friendlies. We have given Joe Launchbury another week’s rest on the back of such a tough season and with another tough year coming up with the Rugby World Cup on the horizon. It is important to give Joe rest when possible to make sure he is still at the top of his game come the end of the season.

"Our aim is to arrive at the London Double Header full of confidence and feeling that we are ready to hit the ground running.”
To purchase tickets to watch Wasps in action against Connacht Rugby call 0844 847 1867 or visit www.wasps.co.uk/tickets .

Wasps squad to play Connacht Rugby

15 Rob Miller
14 Sailosi Tagicakibau
13 Elliot Daly
12 Chris Bell ©
11 Tom Varndell
10 Ruaridh Jackson
9 Joe Simpson
1 John Yapp
2 Carlo Festuccia
3 Phil Swainston
4 James Cannon
5 James Gaskell
6 Ashley Johnson
7 Guy Thompson
8 Sam Jones

Replacements
Tom Lindsay
Matt Mullan
Lorenzo Cittadini
Will Rowlands
James Haskell
Nathan Hughes
Thomas Young
Charlie Davies
Andy Goode
Andrea Masi
Ben Jacobs
Jonah Holmes

The Connacht Clan will be located in the Panache Stand

Nice work 4D.

connachta wrote: Glad Lam has prefered Niyi to Fionn after the Clermont match (Carr was just like rhe end of last saeson :knock on, no pace, isolated, not able to gain ground) Heenan will be back for Dragons in my opinion

Hope your right on Heenan, but at least we have depth there. At the Clermont game, did either of our 8s impress you?

Glad Lam has prefered Niyi to Fionn after the Clermont match (Carr was just like rhe end of last saeson :knock on, no pace, isolated, not able to gain ground) Heenan will be back for Dragons in my opinion

No sign of Heenan yet. This team suggests (injuries allowing) a starting XV against Dragons of

15 Tiernan O’Halloran/Mils Muliaina
14 Niyi Adeolokun*
13 Darragh Leader
12 Dave McSharry
11 Danie Poolman
10 Jack Carty
9 Ian Porter*
1 Denis Buckley
2 Sean Henry
3 Rodney Ah You
4 Quinn Roux*
5 Mick Kearney
6 John Muldoon ©
7 Willie Faloon
8 George Naoupu/Eoin McKeon

Connacht continue their pre-season preparations with a game against London based, Aviva Premiership side Wasps at High Wycombe tomorrow, Saturday August 23rd (kick off 14:30).Head Coach Pat Lam will bring an extended squad of 28 players to London which includes a mix of new signings, established players and talented Academy prospects.Having already played Clermont Auvergne as part of the pre-season schedule, this second fixture presents another opportunity for the coaches to blend the new summer signings and development players into the squad and test out the new systems and structures against a tough opposition.

Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham – all graduates of the Connacht Academy – make up the front row trio.In the absence of John Muldoon (tight hamstring), 23-year-old Mick Kearney has been handed the captaincy for tomorrow’s game. Kearney, part of the touring Emerging Ireland squad this summer, is joined in the second row by South African born lock Quinn Roux.Academy graduate Jack Carty is handed the reins at outhalf and he links up with new signing Ian Porter at scrum half.

Former Trinity player Niyi Adeolokun has earned a start on the right wing following his performances in training and the pre-season test with Clermont where the 23-year-old touched down for Connacht’s try in the second half.Wasps v ConnachtHigh WycombeSaturday August 23rdkick off 2:30pmTraveling supporters or Connacht fans based in and around London can purchase tickets at the gate tomorrow or by calling the Wasps Ticket Office on 0844 847 1867

.The Connacht Clan will be located in the Panache Stand (formally the Dreams Stand).
Connacht line-up v Wasps

15           Tiernan O’Halloran
14           Niyi Adeolokun*
13           Darragh Leader
12           Dave McSharry
11           Danie Poolman
10           Jack Carty
9              Ian Porter*
1              Denis Buckley
2              Dave Heffernan
3              Finlay Bealham
4              Quinn Roux*
5              Mick Kearney ©
6              Eoin McKeon
7              Willie Faloon
8              George Naoupu

Replacements:16 Sean Henry, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Michael Swift, 20 Danny Qualter, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Craig Ronaldson, 23 Fionn Carr, 24 Eoghan Masterson, 25 Shane O’Leary*, 26 Conor Finn*, 27 Rory Parata, 28 Shane Layden.
*uncapped for Connacht

Unavailable: Tom McCartney, Kieran Marmion, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Mils Muliaina, Jason Harris Wright, Ronan Loughney, Nathan White, Andrew Browne, Aly Muldowney, Mata Fifita, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon, John Cooney, Matt Healy

I know, my lineup is just for the Wasps game

Ah You will be available for the first game of the Pro 12, and White will also be fit. So the 4 props will probably be Ah You, Buckley, Loughney, White.

Wasps game should give us some indication as to starting 8/10 and whether Heenan will make the start of the season. Marmion and Henshaw not available until game 2.

As we've injuries, and we're closer to the championship beginning, I don't see two different XV by half-time, but a 1st team that looks like what we will have (beside come-backs) for Dragons, and 10 substitutes

Personally I'd go with

Buckley
Henry
Cooney
Roux
Kearney
Muldoon
Heenan
McKeon
Porter
Ronaldson
Niyi Adeolukan
Leader
Poolman
Layden
TOH

subs

Bealham
Heff
Loughney
Swift
Faloon
Naoupu
Blade
Carty
Carr
O'Leary