Confirmation on Connacht twitter account that Ronaldson, Roux, Porter, Marmion and McKeon all injured. Updates to follow over coming days
days.

Ouch mammoth amount of unfortunate injuries but still very disappointing they had the Cardiff line at their mercy with 5 minutes left and didn't make it count. A few players didn't stand up today i felt.. Cant be too annoyed but i am, I think this game was very important

Hard loss to take, could have won it

Most have mentioned the negatives but to look at the positives:
Connolly- absolutely brilliant again
O'Donnell- excellent again (he's a TH right? Has he been converted a LH or are we just blooding him on the "easier" side)
Robb- the man is a tank and made yards pretty much with ball in hand every time, solid in defense too
Parrata- hardly news to anyone who's seen him play but the lad is a baller!!! I know his auld fella is on this forum, and if he wasn't I'd be even more effusive in my praise He looks to the manor born, if he can stay injury free the sky's the limit

That's 4 guys still in the academy who I'd have no problem starting in any game. 2 euro games coming up so I'd hope to see these guys playing as much as possible in those games (disclaimer: I've not checked the euro squad before saying this so I hope they're all in there). I'd also like to see Blade get a good run out.

Bring on Ulster- who are making very heavy work of Edinburgh :S

connachta wrote: Honnestly I would have taken a BP before the match, I would have taken it from 42th min without SH, so I'm taking it now without much regret. It's ok, it could be worthwile and we've shown charachter

There was a lot of character shown. The biggest worry now is cobbling the last men standing into a competitive matchday 23 for the next few matches.

Honnestly I would have taken a BP before the match, I would have taken it from 42th min without SH, so I'm taking it now without much regret. It's ok, it could be worthwile and we've shown charachter

Cardiff coach said that the wind was stronger than it looked on tv so maybe that's why they didn't kick behind more, we really were crying out for a couple to slow the Cardiff defense a bit.

I think Porter might have gone off injured at half time, he seemed to be limping for the last couple of minutes.

BBC Wales said the ref was from Cardiff although he is with the IRFU, which just increases the ridiculousness of the leagues officiating. I think it was Jiffy who said word for word 'Them Cardiff boys stick together don't they'.

Very disappointing. I thought we were guilty of trying to force it a bit and was surprised we didn't kick in behind them more as they were up so quick and the ref clearly had no interest in the offside rule. He was utterly useless in general. Bundee was outstanding again, hope his foot is ok. It's unlikely we'll be top come Monday but still in a great position going into the Christmas fixtures.

That's a hard defeat to stomach. Cardiff are a poor side but with Marmion off we kept digging ourselves a hole and eventually they took advantage even if the penalty in the lead up to the try should have been reversed for Vosawai piling into Heffernan on the ground 2 yards in front of the referee.

League will always be a joke with home town touch judges, Cardiff tight head was binding on the arm for every scrum after he came in but got away with it. The ref shouldn't be let near a game at this level. Some of his decision were mind boggling. However, we have to blame ourselves. We were comfortable in the 1st half but couldn't make it count. While we can play some good stuff, sometimes the simple option is the right one.

Scrum was a massive disappointment on Cardiff ball until the replacements came in and we put a bit of pressure on.

Having said that we still had the chance to win it late on but couldn't see it through. On the night Cardiff probably deserved it given everything but its immense frustration to have lost that one.

On the Marmion issue, it was an arm injury but he also had blood, could we not have brought Porter back on as a blood replacement? Not sure on the ins and outs of this.

Sickened by that result, Blues did not earn a win at all imo you could not say they were the better team in any aspect of the game. Given the injuries I will hold back some criticism of Connacht as its obvious they weren't allowed play the game they could have played in the second half if Marmion had stayed on. Even at the end we still almost won it, I think that says a lot about their character.
Also never too early to start a hype train so I'm calling it now, Conan is going to be an Irish international!

Frustrating to watch. We lost shape with all the injuries, but came back well in the final quarter. Ref did not cover himself in glory with that last decision. Hoping some of the rest of the lads can get back soon, and Aki's ankle isn't too bad. Well won Cardiff.

Yet another pitiful decision from an official...

At least with Healy in the team its not a total disaster but if Marmion stays off we'll be hard pushed here. Ref changing his mind on how he wants to ref the ruck is not going to help us at all.

Wish BBC would get our subs names right. On the other hand BBC don't know that Healy used to be a scrum half so they think he's doing amazing.

green13 wrote:

phatguerilla wrote: Disaster for Roux, he was playing really well, looked in a lot of pain.

Back three playing really really well in attack, Bundee effective in defense.

Porter is really frustrating me, some very useful kicking but passing from hand not up to scratch for a scrum half. Also not putting any pressure on opposition 8/9 at scrum time.

Connolly having a stormer again, Cardiff don't have a lot going on but still asking questions of Connacht almost in spite of themselves.

Looks like Pat thought the same! let's see how Marmion does.
Come on Lads cut out those stupid errors and push on.

Janey cant believe it! You couldn't make it up.

phatguerilla wrote: Disaster for Roux, he was playing really well, looked in a lot of pain.

Back three playing really really well in attack, Bundee effective in defense.

Porter is really frustrating me, some very useful kicking but passing from hand not up to scratch for a scrum half. Also not putting any pressure on opposition 8/9 at scrum time.

Connolly having a stormer again, Cardiff don't have a lot going on but still asking questions of Connacht almost in spite of themselves.

Looks like Pat thought the same! let's see how Marmion does.
Come on Lads cut out those stupid errors and push on.

Disaster for Roux, he was playing really well, looked in a lot of pain.

Back three playing really really well in attack, Bundee effective in defense.

Porter is really frustrating me, some very useful kicking but passing from hand not up to scratch for a scrum half. Also not putting any pressure on opposition 8/9 at scrum time.

Connolly having a stormer again, Cardiff don't have a lot going on but still asking questions of Connacht almost in spite of themselves.

Mixed bag first half. We've played some great stuff but have tried to be too elaborate at times. Cardiff's defence will crack if we put them through enough phases, there is no need to be giving them targets to hit. Cardiff's maul, the scrum and the eccentric display of the ref are a worry.

Like last year away to them we are more than good enough to beat them but we need to play it smart in the 2nd half.