We need to be looking at 58-60 points to get where we want to be this season. We made a significant leap to 50 this year but taking the next step up to 60 with virtually the same squad is a big ask even allowing for the world cup.

For me, from the first 7 games we absolutely must win the first 5 home games and get a few bonus points from between 4 try and losing bonus points. Glasgow and Ospreys will be weakened but we've gone to weakened Ospreys sides many times over the years and left with nothing. Would be expecting us to be on something like 23/24 after the first 7 games. Anything less and it'll be very hard to get to where we want to be (23/24 points).

Games 8-12 don't look too promising. I'd like to think we could get 9 or 10 points from these games but if we can get 5 or 6 points between those games we'll be doing ok (5/6 points)

Six Nations we need a minimum of 4 wins and really 5. (17/20 points)

Obviously things are going to go different to the above which is probably a positive look at things but we would still need a minimum of 8-10 points from the last 5 games. We could do it but its a significant ask.

As always head to heads against the likes of Scarlets (lost 6-4) Edinburgh (drew 5-5) Cardiff (lost 6-3) Dragons (won 8-2) etc. are going to be important. We need to at least break even against these sides and get the better of at least 2 of them to get where we want.

Just can't get away from how ugly that run in looks, although it is mitigated somewhat by the six nations window, but as pointed out last season we've never made the most of that time before.

Accidentally Onside wrote: Worth noting for the Glasgow game that Scotland will most likely be out of the WC by then (by 2 weeks if they haven't made the knock out stages....which looks a good bet), so they should be at near enough full strength........which is pretty dam strong

We play Glasgow before world cup starts so they will be there for the taking. Unfortunately Jerry Yanuyanutawa didnt make the fiji squad and favaro didnt make the italian squad but hopefully strauss will be at the world cup as he becomes scottish eligible in mid september. We need wales to make it out of group of death for the ospreys squad to be significantly weakened for our visit.

Worth noting for the Glasgow game that Scotland will most likely be out of the WC by then (by 2 weeks if they haven't made the knock out stages....which looks a good bet), so they should be at near enough full strength........which is pretty dam strong

I'd be disappointed if we didnt get 5 wins from the first 7 games up to the end of the RWC, with 5 homes games we should win 4 of them and of the 2 away games i'd take win one lose one. I don't think glasgow will have as much strength in depth as the ospreys so i'm going with a win against glasgow, the one home game i think we will lose is it to Cardiff, a bit of a bogey team for us last few years, the other difficult home game against Edinburgh I think we'll do enough to win

And finally, your very own cut out and keep pocket guide to the 2015/16 season.

And a slightly different perspective, for what it's worth.

So the run in should be interesting anyway.

Italian games are on RAI - that's a bit of a coup for the Pro12
www.pro12rugby.com/news/17565.php
Should hopefully mean the two away games there are on TV.

Accidentally Onside wrote:

salmson wrote:

pinky wrote: They really should give some indication of this at STH marketing time

I don't think the branch knew what weekends they were playing, much less what the tv coverage would be like, when season ticket marketing started in April.

I think the point is when a home game is not on TV then it seems like they will be on Friday night and for people who don't live in Galway that makes it quite difficult to get to. As a Dublin based fan it looks like I'll struggle to make 50% of the games covered by my season ticket and if this had been indicated when marketing the ticket I'd maybe not have bought one......which might be why they didn't do it.

Ulster for example make clear that Friday evening is their preferred slot and if Connacht want to do the same and target Galway based fans then that's fine, but it's a bit duplicitous to not make fans aware of it.

I'm based in Cork, and so Friday matches are a struggle, the boss is ok with a few early finishes but leaving work 90mins early is still something other people in the team will pick up on, but I don't buy the ticket based on matches I can go to, I buy it to support the team.
Friday nights are hard to get to, but for me, saturday's are more dificult, as I'm usually travelling from Cork, or Offaly, which means the day is gone, at least with Friday, I still have a weekend.

I'm not going to make the first game, I'll be on my way to watch U2 in Italy, I'm not sure a Friday trip up for Zebre match will be worth it , same with Treviso. If the teams are competitive in their first matches, I'll travel but it's a long trip to see an Italian team give up at 1/2 time.



With regard to Ulster, given they cannot play Sunday at home, and BBC NI dictating the home match times, Friday night at home is pretty much guaranteed, it doesn't do much for people outside of greater Belfast attending the matches, and is pretty hard on away fans as they'd have to take a day off on the Friday.

salmson wrote:

pinky wrote: They really should give some indication of this at STH marketing time

I don't think the branch knew what weekends they were playing, much less what the tv coverage would be like, when season ticket marketing started in April.

I think the point is when a home game is not on TV then it seems like they will be on Friday night and for people who don't live in Galway that makes it quite difficult to get to. As a Dublin based fan it looks like I'll struggle to make 50% of the games covered by my season ticket and if this had been indicated when marketing the ticket I'd maybe not have bought one......which might be why they didn't do it.

Ulster for example make clear that Friday evening is their preferred slot and if Connacht want to do the same and target Galway based fans then that's fine, but it's a bit duplicitous to not make fans aware of it.

pinky wrote: They really should give some indication of this at STH marketing time

I don't think the branch knew what weekends they were playing, much less what the tv coverage would be like, when season ticket marketing started in April.

TV coverage of our home games (or lack thereof) is really poor for those living abroad (or even those living any distance from Galway in Ireland) but certainly not unprecedented: The main worry going into the second half of the season is that the majority of TG4 games from the first half are being picked up by British channels, and they have little or no interest in broadcasting Connacht matches.

Rd. 1 Dragons - not covered last year
Rd. 3 Cardiff - was covered last year, directly clashes with South Africa Scotland & England Australia is on an hour after full time so waste of money for TG4 to cover this.
Rd. 4 Zebre - was covered last year, TG4 going with Leinster at same time this year.
Rd. 6 Edinburgh - was covered last year, on immediately after WC final, so again little point in TG4 covering it.
Rd. 7 Treviso - not covered last year.
Rd. 10 Ulster - covered as per last year.

phatguerilla wrote: This is crazy, how can it be that tv coverage is actually getting worse with more broadcasting options than a couple of years previous? Really really annoying.

Yeah, I really thought things were improving. Towards the end of last season, practically every game in the league was on TV somewhere.
Connacht seem to be disproportionately hit, especially early in the season, with 5 of the first 7 games untelevised (out of a total of 12 untelevised games in that period). And I would expect more Treviso and Zebre games to be on once they sort out the Italian TV deal.

It does pick up later with rounds 8-12 all televised so I'm hoping the RWC is the factor and the good coverage will continue for the rest of the season.
Interesting they have chosen to show all the untelevised home games on Friday nights where possible, so that must now be their preferred KO time.
They really should give some indication of this at STH marketing time - as previously debated it will delight some and dismay others.

salmson wrote:

Accidentally Onside wrote: Dates and times for first 12 rounds out. Of those 5 of them are at home, three of those are Friday nights at 19:30.....none of which will be televised

Of the first 12 it's 6 home, 6 away, but of the home matches only the InterPro against Ulster will be shown live.

This is crazy, how can it be that tv coverage is actually getting worse with more broadcasting options than a couple of years previous? Really really annoying.

With a settled squad we really should be targeting those opening fixtures. Whilst I'm sure we'd all have liked a few more signings having everyone familiar with the setup means we should be able to hit the ground running

.......except for having to adapt to a new forwards coach that is

Really going to have to make hay through the first 7 games especially at home (cannot slip up against Cardiff and Edinburgh). Would love to see them come through that period at 6-1. That's asking a lot but I think it's imperative if they are to have a shot at finishing 6th. After the Treviso game at the Sportsground they get a mix of away games and tough home games so the wins will be harder to come by. The goal should be 12 wins this season and getting half way there by the first week in November would make the job a lot more manageable.