Loughney
Heffernan
Ah You
Qualter/Swift
Muldowney
Browne
Masterson/McKeon
George/McKeon

Cooney
Ronaldson
Carr
McSharry
O'Leary
Poolman
Layden

I have a compromise between the NOCs, the motivated supporters, the momentum theory lovers and the "rest and be careful" admirers


Loughney
Delahunt
Bealham

Swift
Roux (not a VIP = very important player, for the moment)

6 Browne (or Fafita if unavailable)
7 McKeon after all, have to be tested again at 7 if by some mischance Faloon gets injured
8 Masterson deserves it

Cooney
Ronalson to see him back to outhalf

Carr
McSharry
O'Leary
Niyi
Layden

Ah You ok but on the bench
JHW (progressive come back)
JP Cooney
Qualter
Fafita/Connelly if fit
Porter
Nikora
Gaffney

14 seniors, 8 Eagles

I know i've said this before but with Henshaw probably with Ireland for the November internationals now is the time to be trying out a new 13 and seeing how they do. With that in mind D. Leader, Peter Robb or Shane O'Leary need to be given a chance to show what they can bring to this position.

We shouldn't be putting out a juniors team but if we can't put out 7 or 8 back up players to see what they're made of and give them game time then there's no point talking about getting to the final of this competition. To me Connachta's pack looks fairly sound except maybe Fafita at 7 but who else is there if Connolly is injured? Yes Masterson played there last season but I'd prefer to see him get a go in his preferred position. Muldoon definitely needs to rest at some stage, this weekend makes sense.

Qualter needs more game time against proper opposition to see what he's made of, ditto Bealham. Shane O'Leary was already playing in the Amlin last season for instance, I doubt he'll be happy playing exclusively for the A's this season. Give him a run at 10 and see what he's like there. Give Leader a go at 13. Porter and Cooney or Blade should be a given, we must protect Marmion when possible he's already played tons this season. With TOH already injured and Healy out for a little while, along with Poolman with concussion protocol, we should definitely be trying at least one new winger to see what we have as backup.

swift4prez wrote:

pinky wrote:

swift4prez wrote: If he named that team on a Friday for Saturdays game, I would not show up.

Don't be melodramatic Swifty, we all know you'd show up even if Fourdogs was propping and the second row pairing was me and Connolly

1 fourdogs
2 ummm
3 shelflife
4 sea point
5 sol
6 misfits
7 wp rathead
8 swift4prez

9 Connolly
10 connacht cows
11 decadanace
12 drop the claw
13 imf
14 overstrander
15 pinky

This is a team that would put "the fear of God" into any team. I've picked people I've met and think would fit right into each place.

I'm much too slow, slight and useless to be a winger but I'll accept your vote of confidence. I think you have the second row spot-on by the way.

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.

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

P.S. Muldoon really needs to be rested
Agreed. But Browne may not be fit having missed the Eagles game, and we can afford to lose Mul more than we can afford to lose Faloon. So Muldoon will almost certainly be in the 23.

I think Masterson could do a job at six with maybe Browne on the bench. Hell Mick Kearney has played six for us a few times so I don't see why this season should be different. Muldoon needs to be rested.

As for the rest of your points I can see where your coming from but i just have zero interest in this competition. That might change when we get closer up the table but for the moment it's just a big fat 'Meh'.

swift4prez wrote:

pinky wrote:

swift4prez wrote: If he named that team on a Friday for Saturdays game, I would not show up.

Don't be melodramatic Swifty, we all know you'd show up even if Fourdogs was propping and the second row pairing was me and Connolly

1 fourdogs
2 ummm
3 shelflife
4 sea point
5 sol
6 misfits
7 wp rathead
8 swift4prez

9 Connolly
10 connacht cows
11 decadanace
12 drop the claw
13 imf
14 overstrander
15 pinky

This is a team that would put "the fear of God" into any team. I've picked people I've met and think would fit right into each place.

Ok, I know some back rows have converted to hooker, but why you've put your points machine out half in at 2 I have no idea.

salmson wrote:

clanman wrote: Ok so you agree that changes should be made and quite a few going by your post above, to be honest you're not that far off what Connachta is suggesting,

Sorry, wasn't being clear - there are up to a dozen possible changes to the team/bench, I'm saying we'll likely make 3 or 4 of them, not change almost the whole matchday squad as per Connachta's suggestion.

I might have been unclear too but Clanman summed up : " the point is that we can afford to make even a few more changes and still beat them, They will be not be sending their top players over to face us, they have too much at risk in the TOP 14 even at this early stage of their season."

Sportground will in all likehood remain a fortress after this one without using our elite troops (no disrespect for ASR)
I think
1) some of you overestimate the notion of momentum. that's not because a starting lineup takes a break that the players would be unable to bounce back one or 2 weeks later
2) arguing about the Challenge Cup motivation is the wrong debate for this match. I've said it honnestly, I can bet we will win that one with 9 good Eagles 6 Seniors (except major upset). The debate about playing or not the Cup will take place next week for Exeter. There, putting our strongest team will be much needed if we want to grab sth.

swift4prez wrote:

pinky wrote:

swift4prez wrote: If he named that team on a Friday for Saturdays game, I would not show up.

Don't be melodramatic Swifty, we all know you'd show up even if Fourdogs was propping and the second row pairing was me and Connolly

1 fourdogs
2 ummm
3 shelflife
4 sea point
5 sol
6 misfits
7 wp rathead
8 swift4prez

9 Connolly
10 connacht cows
11 decadanace
12 drop the claw
13 imf
14 overstrander
15 pinky

This is a team that would put "the fear of God" into any team. I've picked people I've met and think would fit right into each place.

With connachta as head coach of course.
I only got the nod at 15 due to my striking resemblance to Geordan Murphy (on a good hair day). I'm not sure of my defensive capabilities though, I'd be relying on plenty of bailouts from the IMF.

connachtexile wrote: I'm more interested in how many of the people here take this cup seriously rather than Lam & Co. who said they'll put out a strong team.

I do. We can have a right go at winning this.

connachtexile wrote: For me the league is the most important thing this year.

It's not that simple. Suppose we put out Connachta's team and get beat on Saturday, which is entirely possible, and then we have away games at Exeter and Ospreys. We go into the November break with a 4-1-4 record. Our enemies in Independent Towers and the Debt Star start putting out the story that we have one scrappy win in Italy since be beat Leinster at the start of the season.. The story is then (another) imploding Connacht season.

connachtexile wrote: I'd rather throw out a young team and give them experience which will prove us in good stead

I have 2 words for you and the second is Bradley.

connachtexile wrote: then sticking out our first XV and one of them getting injured just to make d*ckheads like Nigel Wray feel good about himself.

I very much doubt Nigel Wray could even tell you who Connacht are playing this weekend. We're not in the Elite Competition, so how could we make him feel anything one way or the other?

connachtexile wrote: P.S. Muldoon really needs to be rested

Agreed. But Browne may not be fit having missed the Eagles game, and we can afford to lose Mul more than we can afford to lose Faloon. So Muldoon will almost certainly be in the 23.

clanman wrote: Ok so you agree that changes should be made and quite a few going by your post above, to be honest you're not that far off what Connachta is suggesting,

Sorry, wasn't being clear - there are up to a dozen possible changes to the team/bench, I'm saying we'll likely make 3 or 4 of them, not change almost the whole matchday squad as per Connachta's suggestion.

Lam couldn't in all seriousneess put out a team like Connachta suggested: of what we have available, only 3 of this first XV selection - Loughs, Delahunt, McSharry - are genuine first teamers. (You could argue Browne is there or thereabouts, but according to the reports I've seen Browne was a late withdrawal from the Eagles so it's moot).

So for one of our home "A" games (Europe and home interpros) we roll out the red carpet and hand over our unbeaten home record? If we blow this we could finish the finish the first block of the season with three successive defeats (Exeter and Ospresy away to follow) and a won 4 lost 4 record. We need to keep the momentum going.

i take your point Salmson but I'm more interested in how many of the people here take this cup seriously rather than Lam & Co. who said they'll put out a strong team. For me the league is the most important thing this year. I'd rather throw out a young team and give them experience which will prove us in good stead then sticking out our first XV and one of them getting injured just to make d*ckheads like Nigel Wray feel good about himself. Just my personal opinion.

P.S. Muldoon really needs to be rested and the way Masterson is playing I don't see why he couldn't be put there with Browne on the bench.

salmson wrote:

connachtexile wrote: Is seriously think we need a poll here! Eagles vs Seniors who would you pick? For me I'd go with Connachta's team.

Lam couldn't in all seriousneess put out a team like Connachta suggested: of what we have available, only 3 of this first XV selection - Loughs, Delahunt, McSharry - are genuine first teamers. (You could argue Browne is there or thereabouts, but according to the reports I've seen Browne was a late withdrawal from the Eagles so it's moot).

So for one of our home "A" games (Europe and home interpros) we roll out the red carpet and hand over our unbeaten home record? If we blow this we could finish the finish the first block of the season with three successive defeats (Exeter and Ospresy away to follow) and a won 4 lost 4 record. We need to keep the momentum going.

We've started 26 different players and used over 30 this season so players are being managed as regards game time. The 23 will be largely as per this week, with possible returnees White, Harris-Wright, and Browne maybe making the bench. There are a few players due for a bit of a rest but they won't all be benched or stood down at the same time:
Kearney played 80 this week so Roux and Muldowney might start.
Muldoon is due some downtime but that really depends on Browne and Faloon's fitness.
Marmion and Henshaw are due a rest, but if Uncle Joe has asked Lam to rest them against Ospreys they'll start this week and next.
Carty is due to be rotated and Ronaldson could do with some gametime at 10.
Lastly Leader is also due a rest but after his performance last w/e you'd be a brave or foolish man to make that change.

Ok so you agree that changes should be made and quite a few going by your post above, to be honest you're not that far off what Connachta is suggesting, the point is that we can afford to make even a few more changes and still beat them, They will be not be sending their top players over to face us, they have too much at risk in the TOP 14 even at this early stage of their season.

I don't understand why people would be against going to the match if x number of senior players were'nt playing, but then again i will go to both matches over the weekend because that's what i do.

connachta wrote: I don't understand why on earth we should put our 1st XV whereas they won't.

Because if you charge for this game as if it's an Interpro you put out a strong team.

Because we want to keep a home unbeaten record and send out the message that when you play Connacht at the Sportsground, you don't win.

But most importantly, because our new "winning culture" is but newborn, and nothing that smacks of our old losing culture ("targetting" games, anyone?) should be tolerated.