galway_gas wrote:

Fourdogs wrote: Might their team selection have something to do with the general French philosophy of concentrating on home games

This is the squad for the 6 games. They can add a couple of medical jokers and make further changes if they make the quarters.

Yeah resting players for away games is de rigeur in France, but leaving frontliners out of the squad entirely seems unusual (I could be wrong as I haven't been paying a huge amount of attention to French Challenge Cup squads lately).
They are saying that even in the event of injury to the second choice guy, they'll bring in someone from the academy rather than risk their first choice.

Fourdogs wrote: Might their team selection have something to do with the general French philosophy of concentrating on home games

This is the squad for the 6 games. They can add a couple of medical jokers and make further changes if they make the quarters.

Fourdogs wrote: Might their team selection have something to do with the general French philosophy of concentrating on home games

We've had a few French teams do that in the past, Montpelier from a few years ago where we bet them both home and away, in fact La Rochelle are worse than Montpelier. It should be a handy win for us. not sure the weather will play ball though for running rugby.

Might their team selection have something to do with the general French philosophy of concentrating on home games

connachta wrote: Interesting to see La Rochelle have left some of there heavy hitters like Sireli Bobo, Jason Eason, Uili Atonio and Jone Qovu out of there Challenge Cup squad.
Probably indicates how serious they will take it

Unlike Bayonne who have pretty much named a full strength squad - other than full back Scott Spedding

I'm stuck out in deepest darkest Buckinghamshire this weekend - is the match being broadcast on TV?

Opening weekend will set the tone for the rest of the cup; it'll be as interesting to see how Exeter do in Bayonne. Exeter have been very impressive this season so far.

connachta wrote: Interesting to see La Rochelle have left some of there heavy hitters like Sireli Bobo, Jason Eason, Uili Atonio and Jone Qovu out of there Challenge Cup squad.

Probably indicates how serious they will take it

We could meanwhile meet Barraque again, the flyhalf who helped us to win in Toulouse last December
Be careful about Murimurivalu VuliVuli and Canale though

I'd like to have seen Bobo come over, he makes me feel young! 39 next January and still a first choice winger.
Leaving those guys out is something of a statement of intent (or lack of it). Sounds like they will be treating their home Challenge Cup games like away Top14 games.

Interesting to see La Rochelle have left some of there heavy hitters like Sireli Bobo, Jason Eason, Uili Atonio and Jone Qovu out of there Challenge Cup squad.

Probably indicates how serious they will take it

We could meanwhile meet Barraque again, the flyhalf who helped us to win in Toulouse last December
Be careful about Murimurivalu VuliVuli and Canale though

Squad update says Browne played 80 minutes against Bristol in the B&I (Bristol press reports didn't have him in the team at all). Good to see him and JHW back in time for Europe.

"Arbitre Connacht/ASR: Andrew McMenemy, écossais"
referee Andrew McMenemy, scottish

Poor Ulsterman, the 1st pen of our HCup story against Toulouse was by him...

ConnachtCows wrote:

ummm, wrote: It's the No One Cares cup, or NOC for short

Thats a little harsh. I care. I dont see why we shouldnt be excited about this cup. Win our group, and get a home 1/4 final against a big team. The atmosphere could be fantastic
I am going to miss the first two home matches though.

I think you may have missed my incredibly subtle hidden message

I get your point but Mils is coming too! Also Layden can play fullback. I have Leader in there as he can cover 13 as well and i'd like to see him get 10 mins there.

connachtexile wrote: Loughney
Delahnunt
Ah You
Swift
Qualter
Masterson
Fifita
McKeown
Porter
Nikora
Carr
Robb
O'Leary
Layden
Leader

JHW
Bealham
J.P. Cooney
Browne
Connelly (if fit) otherwise George or Muldoon will have to be put in.
Cooney
Ronaldson
Finn

It works quite well, but give Leader a break, he played 437 min / 480 possible this season
And you can easily "take the risk" for McSharry, Aki is just about to come now

Loughney
Delahnunt
Ah You
Swift
Qualter
Masterson
Fifita
McKeown
Porter
Nikora
Carr
Robb
O'Leary
Layden
Leader

JHW
Bealham
J.P. Cooney
Browne
Connelly (if fit) otherwise George or Muldoon will have to be put in.
Cooney
Ronaldson
Finn

And mine still preserves key players : Poolman, Faloon, Muld, Mulown, Buckley and White, Kearney Marmion Naoupu Henshaw and Leader