illplaybymyself wrote: Enough of this negative bulls**t. If our defending is so bad how have we only conceded 1 try from open play. I could understand your negativity if we were 4 try's down but hay wer not. We are away, depleted and winning. Brilliant performance so far, cracking game

Only reason I'm being negative is that we are ruining a lot of our good work through the same mistakes that have riddled us over the last few weeks. Delighted to be up at half time but unless we get our basics right, we have little chance of capitalising on all our good work.

The commitment, desire and fight from Connacht is brilliant, couldn't ask for more, aside from a win of course :evil:

Agree illplaybymyself.

Even the BT guys are giving massive amount of credit to our defence. Yes there are mistakes, be we are forcing mistakes on them.

Enough of this negative bulls**t. If our defending is so bad how have we only conceded 1 try from open play. I could understand your negativity if we were 4 try's down but hay wer not. We are away, depleted and winning. Brilliant performance so far, cracking game

Good finish from Gloucester off a reversing scrum. The way we are defending we have no business going anywhere near the European Cup.

Good game but we are causing a lot of our own problems at the moment. Gloucester look dangerous in open play.

From the kick off again, we dig our own grave!

George in the 2nd row has been used before without much success. Obviously they want a bit more power at scrum time but we are very badly stretched for this one. In all honesty I'd be reluctant to go to the bench at all in this game, maybe Andrew Browne and as a bit of a wildcard Shane O'Leary. James Connolly is one for the future but has little experience. We'll have to be ahead at half time to have any chance heading down the home stretch.

IMO it's going to take something special out of the Aki/Henshaw partnership for Connacht to win this game. They've had a fair number of games together now so it would be the perfect time to shine.

If we win, then STHs get a 24 Hour priority window to buy tickets for the home game.
That's a nice reward for your loyalty.
The f***ing Double Gloucester gets a better head start down Cooper's Hill!

www.connachtrugby.ie/champions-cup-play-...t-sale/#ConnachtNews

clanman wrote: their backrow is completely different to the one that faced us in April, with Aki in the backline and mils not there this time you'd have to think we'll push them even closer this time, we're -8 in the handicap which is very generous

Speaking about generous odds, I noticed John Mullholland were offering 25-1 for Connacht to qualify for the Champions Cup. Maybe it just underlines the enormity of the task and is designed to target green eyed Connacht fans but I like those odds.

their backrow is completely different to the one that faced us in April, with Aki in the backline and mils not there this time you'd have to think we'll push them even closer this time, we're -8 in the handicap which is very generous

Team named:

Connacht team to face Gloucester

15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Fionn Carr
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. John Cooney

1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Rodney Ah You
4. George Naoupu
5. Aly Muldowney
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Eoghan Masterson
8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. JP Cooney
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Andrew Browne
20. James Connolly
21. Ian Porter
22. Miah Nikora
23. Shane O’Leary

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-team-to-fa...ster-2/#ConnachtNews

Gloucester Rugby:
Charlie Sharples; Jonny May, Bill Meakes, Billy Twelvetrees (capt), Henry Purdy; James Hook, Greig Laidlaw; Nick Wood, Richard Hibbard, John Afoa; Tom Savage, Tom Palmer; Jacob Rowan, Dan Thomas, Ross Moriarty

Replacements:
Darren Dawidiuk, Yann Thomas, Shaun Knight, Elliott Stooke, Lewis Ludlow, Dan Robson, Billy Burns, Rob Cook
www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/rugby/matchcentre/11383.php


No mention of Dillane.

Gloucester name team.

Invalid consumer key/secret in configuration

5 changes from when we last played them: Purdy in on the wing with Sharples going to fullback, Wood for Murphy at loosehead, and an entirely new back row.

Gloucester v Connacht – European Champions Cup Qualification Play Off Semi-Final
Sunday 24th May 2015 Kick Off: 15:30
On TV: BT Sports 1

After recording their highest ever finish in a full league season last Saturday, Connacht will hope to move within 1 win of European Cup qualification when they visit Kingsholm for the 2nd time in less than 2 months on Sunday. Despite a disappointing Premiership campaign, Gloucester's 14-7 win over Connacht in the quarter final paved the way for the Premiership side to win the European Challenge Cup and secure their place in the play off.

Other Match Stats
Gloucester's last home defeat was a 23-30 defeat against Wasps on December 28th
Gloucester have won the 4 previous meetings between the sides
Former Connacht player Shane Monahan is a member of the Gloucester squad

Gloucester Stats
Website: www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/
Founded: 1873
Ground: Kingsholm
Capacity: 16,500
Captain: Billy Twelvetrees
Director of Rugby: David Humphreys
Coach: Laurie Fisher

Premiership League Position 2014/15: 9th P:22 Pts: 48
Premiership League Position 2013/14: 9th P:22 Pts: 44
European Challenge Cup 2014/15: Champions (Beat Edinburgh 19-13 in the final) 1st in Pool 5 Points: 29
Heineken Cup 2013/14: 2nd in Pool 6 Points: 14 (Lost European Challenge Cup Q/F 36-24 away to Wasps)
Anglo Welsh Cup 2014/15: 2nd in Pool 1 P: 4 Pts: 14
Anglo Welsh Cup 2013/14: 2nd in Pool 1 P: 4 Pts: 10

European Challenge Cup Pool 5 Final Standings
Gloucester 29
Oyonnax 16
Zebre 8
Brive 2

Previous Fixtures
Bath 50-30 Gloucester (Premiership Round 22)
Gloucester 35-13 London Irish (Premiership Round 21)
Glouceter 19-13 Edinburgh (Challenge Cup Final)
Gloucester 42-40 Newcastle (Premiership Round 20)
Glouceter 30-19 Exeter Chiefs (Challenge Cup Semi-Final)
Harlequines 29-26 Gloucester (Premiership Round 19)

Gloucester Ins/Outs 2014/15
Players In
John Afoa from Ulster
Richard Hibbard from Ospreys
Mariano Galarza from Worcester Warriors
Greig Laidlaw from Edinburgh Rugby
Aled Thomas from Scarlets
Mark Atkinson from Bedford Blues
Tom Isaacs from Ospreys
Steve McColl from Yorkshire Carnegie
Tom Palmer from Wasps
Jacob Rowan from Yorkshire Carnegie
James Hook from USA Perpignan
Callum Braley from Bristol Rugby
Henry Purdy from Leicester Tigers
Elliott Stooke promoted from Academy
Billy Burns promoted from Academy
Ross Moriarty promoted from Academy
Aleki Lutui from Edinburgh Rugby

Players Out
Will James retired
Matt Cox to Worcester Warriors
Ryan Mills to Worcester Warriors
Andy Hazell retired
Tavis Knoyle to Cardiff Blues
Tim Taylor retired
Dan George to Worcester Warriors
Tom Heard to Plymouth Albion
Thomas Young to Wasps
Freddie Burns to Leicester Tigers
Huia Edmonds to RC Narbonne
Jonny Bentley to Jersey
Rupert Harden to Benetton Treviso
Koree Britton to London Welsh
Drew Cheshire to Moseley
Jimmy Cowan to Tasman Makos
Mike Tindall retired
Andrew Bulumakau to Doncaster Knights
Lua Lokotui to Beziers
James Simpson-Daniel retired
Martyn Thomas to RC Massy

Previous Meetings

Friday 3rd April 2015 European Challenge Cup Quarter Final
Gloucester 14-7 Connacht
www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/30593.php

Saturday 17th December 2011 Heineken Cup
Gloucester 23-19 Connacht
www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2011/1217/288828-connacht/

Saturday 10th December 2011 Heineken Cup
Connacht 10-14 Gloucester
www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2011...ucester_heinekencup/

Saturday 22nd August 2009 Friendly
Gloucester 29-19 Connacht
www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/rugby/matchcentre/888.php

According to Linley McKenzie in today's Irish Times, Marmion is the only concern from last weekend. X-ray was clear but they're waiting on results from MRI scan. She quotes Pat as saying that no-one is returning from the Return to Play group and that anyone's that fit from Academy is on standby.