Looking at the Exeter team it looks strong, only 2 or 3 changes from the team who hammered London Irish at home 2 weeks back.

Connacht team is fine apart from Marmion being left out. Can't really understand that, was delighted to see him come off after 40 last weekend in anticipation of this one. If the plan was to start Porter in this one, I'd have given him the full game last week, didn't really play too well when he came on last week but at least he got that amount of gametime and he did ok in the first game against Dragons. Hopefully he can do a job tomorrow.

However, the fact we can make 7 or 8 changes and still put out a good team is a major positive compared to a few years back.

I'd be ecstatic with a win but to be honest given the team Exeter have selected, I'd be satisfied to take a losing bonus point from this one. Hopefully La Rochelle can do us a favour tonight, if they could beat Bayonne it would really put the ball in our court to win the group even if we were to lose tomorrow.

I suspect Marmion is pencilled in for the Georgia game with Murray and Reddan the selected 9's for the Boks.

That's a strong enough team to get the job done, maybe some question marks about the halfbacks. Can Porter get Ronaldson the ball quickly and once he does how will Craig deal with it as most of his time on the field has been at centre? If it works out well between them Connacht have a good chance.
Have to assume Healy is carrying a knock. If one thing came through about the Eagle's game it was that Carr had a nightmare but here he is included on the bench. I did see Healy with his head bandage in the LaRochelle highlights.

If Marmion being rested means he'll be available for the Ospreys game and not be considered for the SA game for Ireland that is disappointing. I could have this completely wrong. Maybe he's getting two weeks of rest or he might still be in contention for a spot on the bench against the Springboks even if he is included for the Ospreys. Just think this would be one last good opportunity to stake his claim. Of course Schmidt probably would have let Lam know his plans for all the Connacht lads called into the Irish camp.

phatguerilla wrote:

clanman wrote: a tough assignment for Ronaldson at 10, a bit of a baptism of fire. other wise a good balance to the team. Qualter is 22 and not in the academy any more so it's make or break for him this season so he needs to step up

I think Qualter has a senior contract, albeit only a year. Exciting times for Blade and Qualter, a sign of confidence in their ability, particularly Blade who could easily have seen Cooney step ahead of him if the latter was playing any good.I imagine this means Ronaldson will start against the Ospreys too.

yeah I think they now call the 1 yr contract a development contract. agreed about Blade, he did a Marmionlike Shimmy against the Ponty last weekend, he's small even for a scrum-half, but doesn't shirk away from his defensive duties, I think there are others in the academy that will step ahead of Qualter in the not too distant future

clanman wrote: a tough assignment for Ronaldson at 10, a bit of a baptism of fire. other wise a good balance to the team. Qualter is 22 and not in the academy any more so it's make or break for him this season so he needs to step up

I think Qualter has a senior contract, albeit only a year. Exciting times for Blade and Qualter, a sign of confidence in their ability, particularly Blade who could easily have seen Cooney step ahead of him if the latter was playing any good.I imagine this means Ronaldson will start against the Ospreys too.

wp_rathead wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote:

overstrander wrote: You're a fountain of positivity ConnachtCows

Someone must have edited my post, damn moderators

My original post said "What odds on Nathan White collecting a clean sweep of a hattrick of tries, man of the match performance, winning captain performance, and get sin binned or worse :woohoo:

You left out Drop Goal from inside own 22- you're slacking Cows

That's where the yellow card comes in. Takes the drop goal from the back of our ruck on the 22, into the wind. The ball clears the crossbar, just, and White rips off all of his clothes, and streaks in celebration

clanman wrote: a tough assignment for Ronaldson at 10, a bit of a baptism of fire. other wise a good balance to the team. Qualter is 22 and not in the academy any more so it's make or break for him this season so he needs to step up

Was right about Ron at 10
So, Carty, Marmion, Roux, Muldowney all for the Liberty Std apparently
I'd be more cautious for AhYou, on the bench doesn't mean Joe will release him with certainty

a tough assignment for Ronaldson at 10, a bit of a baptism of fire. other wise a good balance to the team. Qualter is 22 and not in the academy any more so it's make or break for him this season so he needs to step up

ConnachtCows wrote:

overstrander wrote: You're a fountain of positivity ConnachtCows

Someone must have edited my post, damn moderators

My original post said "What odds on Nathan White collecting a clean sweep of a hattrick of tries, man of the match performance, winning captain performance, and get sin binned or worse :woohoo:

You left out Drop Goal from inside own 22- you're slacking Cows

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Aly Muldowney
20. Danny Qualter
21. Caolin Blade
22. Jack Carty
23. Fionn Carr

BIG games for Blade and Qualter. Blade has being given a chance to cement the 3rd choice scrumhalf position and Qualter is being given a chance in front of the like of Romaine to push for a first team spot. Qualter has played 8 before (and could do a job at 6). He's also a big physical lump. Hope both do well.

overstrander wrote: You're a fountain of positivity ConnachtCows

Someone must have edited my post, damn moderators

My original post said "What odds on Nathan White collecting a clean sweep of a hattrick of tries, man of the match performance, winning captain performance, and get sin binned or worse :woohoo:

You're a fountain of positivity ConnachtCows

Odds on Nathan White getting sin-binned or worse?

Does that mean Leader, Henshaw, White will be in Nov match day squad as they will be rested for Ospreys!!! Nice to see Swifty back in as he hasn't played in a while
Muldoon and Marmion being rested

Looks like strong enough teams both sides:

www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/match_centr...lineups&fixid=200753

Marmion and Muldoon rested, Carty on bench. Swifty gets a run.

Few big guns back for Chiefs, Waldron, Steenson, etc.

15. Darragh Leader
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Dave McSharry
11. Danie Poolman
10. Craig Ronaldson
9. Ian Porter

1. Denis Buckley
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Nathan White (captain)
4. Michael Swift
5. Mick Kearney
6. Andrew Browne
7. Willie Faloon
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Aly Muldowney
20. Danny Qualter
21. Caolin Blade
22. Jack Carty
23. Fionn Carr

Below was their side against Bayonne. Ian Whitten there as well. Lots of names that will be familiar to us. Brett Sturgess at prop had a season with Connacht about 8 or 9 years back, Vainikolo likely to see some action you'd imagine too. Good side even with a number of changes from their regular team. Awaiting our team announcement tomorrow, hoping Pat Lam will get the balance right!

Exeter: Arnott; Nowell, Hughes, Whitten, James; Sweeney (capt), Thomas; Rimmer, Taione, Low; Lees, Caldwell; Armand, Scaysbrook, Horstmann.
Replacements: Bateman, Sturgess, Brown, Welch, Naqelevuki, Lewis, Steenson, Vainikolo.