Romaine tried two SBW offloads and both times the receiving player knocked on which was frustrating.
Think what this campaign proves is that while we can play nice stuff, the lack of regular games for what is in effect an U21 team gets exposed by gnarled veterans who play week in week out.
Also first time today that I saw a kicker miss with all his kicks. Bristol kicker missed six from six

I was impressed by Cooney at 9 as well today. Mata made some great carries, but was one of the yellows so only an okay game all in all. We could use his line breaking ability in the first team as well though.

Cian Romaine is fecking freak of a size for a 19 year old

I can't believe he isn't already in the academy! He's played so many Eagle's games this season I just assumed that he was. Would love for him to get a run out in the six shirt in the senior team and let him learn his trade before he eventually moves to the second row like we did with Mick Kearney. Carolan and Co. deserve massive credit for bringing the amount of young guys through like they have. With Finlay Belham shaping up to be a good 3rd string T.H and Saba making his first appearance we're finally getting the depth we need to contend with the bigger teams.

clanman wrote:

wp_rathead wrote: Things I learnt at todays games:
1) Cian Romaine is fecking freak of a size for a 19 year old
2) Apart from a missed tackle, Cooney looked very lively at 9
3) The Green Gloves we got a part of season ticket does nothing to keep your hands warm
4) Double socking is not enough to keep feet warm- need to up it to triple socking

All in all we were defending our line for majority of game but lads can be proud - this wasn't a weak Bristol side and we should have learned alot

Watch this space, Cian Romaine is going to be a beast, in fact I now christen him Manchild.

didnt get to todays game but have seen him a couple of times and been impressed. have wondered if SOB would ever be big enough for a pro second row or mobile enough for a backrow. From physical size and athleticism Cian has great potential in several positions. Why wait ill next year to sign him to academy. Promote him now.

19? Are you sure? He looked like Godzilla compared to everyone else on the field.

wp_rathead wrote: Things I learnt at todays games:
1) Cian Romaine is fecking freak of a size for a 19 year old
2) Apart from a missed tackle, Cooney looked very lively at 9
3) The Green Gloves we got a part of season ticket does nothing to keep your hands warm
4) Double socking is not enough to keep feet warm- need to up it to triple socking

All in all we were defending our line for majority of game but lads can be proud - this wasn't a weak Bristol side and we should have learned alot

Watch this space, Cian Romaine is going to be a beast, in fact I now christen him Manchild.

Things I learnt at todays games:
1) Cian Romaine is fecking freak of a size for a 19 year old
2) Apart from a missed tackle, Cooney looked very lively at 9
3) The Green Gloves we got a part of season ticket does nothing to keep your hands warm
4) Double socking is not enough to keep feet warm- need to up it to triple socking

All in all we were defending our line for majority of game but lads can be proud - this wasn't a weak Bristol side and we should have learned alot

Cooney try 25 14

Finished 32 14. Good show from a team of kids

Eagles down to 13, and 2 Bris tries, but it's anectdotal now. What matters is that the 15 starters held their own against them for a whole hour

25 9, two yellow cards against connacht, briefly down to 13 when bristol scored their 4th

53 MINS - Ciaran Gaffney intercepts Jarvis' long pass to rampage upfield, but the winger stopped in his tracks by the impressive Crumpton.
PEN! McKeon with the first points of the second half with a long range penalty. 9-15 (55 mins).


Very good for weakned Eagles (without any of Swift/Browne/Muldowney + Carr + Layden + Nikora + Connolly + Qualter + Bealham + Finn!!!!

Nearly a 3rd string, holding on against a team with low-tier Premiership level...

Bristol lead 15 6 at half time, two tries one conversion and one penalty to one penalty and one drop goal.

Was hoping to head to this game. But due to illness not going to be able.

If anyone goes, could they update whenever they can.

Thanks.

The Connacht Eagles team, sponsored by NUI Galway, has been named for Saturday’s final round British & Irish Cup tie with Bristol Rugby at the Sportsground, kick off 2pm.

Head Coach Nigel Carolan has selected a side that shows seven personnel changes from the team that lined out against Pontypridd RFC in Wales last weekend

.Academy outhalf Conor McKeon has been handed the reins at outhalf in a back line that sees two other changes with David Panter and Ciaran Gaffney both featuring

.Up front, Jack Dinneen and Conal O’Donnell start in the front row with loose head prop Jacob Walshe continuing in the number 1 jersey from last week. Behind them, Cian Romaine has been promoted from the bench to join the ever-present Ultan Dillane in the second row. Mata Fifita starts at blindside flanker in a back row with Rory Molony and captain Eoghan Masterson.

Pool leaders Bristol will come in search of the win they need to be certain of a home quarter-final. The English side extended their winning run to 13 matches with a 22-14 victory over London Scottish in Round 5. Bristol outscored Connacht eight tries to four in front of a record B&I Cup crowd when the sides met in Round 1. Olly Robinson, son of head coach Andy, scored a hat-trick on his competitive debut for the club while the Eagles secured a try bonus point that day with Masterson (2), Fionn Carr and Caolin Blade all crossing.

The Eagles have won one from two games played at home so far this season and a win over Bristol tomorrow afternoon could see them lift themselves off the bottom of pool 1.

Connacht Eagles team to face Bristol Rugby
:15 David Panter
14 Ciaran Gaffney
13 Rory Parata
12 Peter Robb
11 Shane O’Leary
10 Conor McKeon
9 John Cooney

1 Jacob Walshe
2 Jack Dinneen
3 Conan O’Donnell
4 Cian Romaine
5 Ultan Dillane
6 Mata Fifita
7 Rory Moloney
8 Eoghan Masterson (captain)

REPLACEMENTS
16 Paul O’Donnell
17 Conor Kyne
18 Marc Kelly
19 Stephen McVeigh
20 Conor Lowndes
21 Aidan Moyniahan
22 Dwayne Corcoran

Connacht Eagles v Bristol Rugby
Saturday December 13thThe SportsgroundKick off 2pm

Dwayne Peel....... Good player, presume that he is coming back from injury.

We're really going to be stretched in some positions for this game. I see the likes of Connolly will probably be travelling with the seniors but one positive of Nikora going with the seniors is Conor McKeon may be handed the reins at 10. I'd just hope for a respectable performance to finish the campaign.