ConnachtCows wrote: Good news for Marmion from an International perspective.
Dillane must be starting on the bench on orders from Uncle Joe

Not overly excited about George in the second row, but who else is there available?

Qualter only other option I can think off unless look to lads in the academy (guessing SOB2.0 is now exclusively a backrow)

Reddan and Van der Flier aren't involved for Leinster tonight so wouldn't read too much into Marmion being kept back. Van der Flier is unlikely to be in matchday squad vs Wales for example

Delighted that Blade is starting though
And Henshaw bein back is massive for us
Bealham over Rodney Ah You is interesting selection by Pat

Scarlets team for tomorrow:

15 Liam Williams, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Gareth Owen, 12 Hadleigh Parkes ©, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Rhodri Williams, 1 Phil John, 2 Ryan Elias, 3 Rhodri Jones, 4 Tom Price, 5 Lewis Rawlins, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Will Boyde, 8 Morgan Allen

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Dylan Evans, Peter Edwards, Jack Jones, Tom Phillips, Connor Lloyd, Steven Shingler, Michael Collins

www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-...s-team-news-10807345

They have 8 on international duty 9 injured & 1 suspended, and, bizarrely, have omitted Regan King from the 23 entirely.

Good news for Marmion from an International perspective.
Dillane must be starting on the bench on orders from Uncle Joe

Not overly excited about George in the second row, but who else is there available?

Ireland International Robbie Henshaw will line out at the Sportsground for the second week in a row after he was released from international camp to play for his province.

Forwards Finlay Bealham and Ultan Dillane, who were two of five uncapped players drafted into Joe Schmidt’s 6 Nations squad, have also been released for tomorrow’s game. Bealham, who will start at tighthead prop, is one of six frontline changes made by Pat Lam from last week, while lock Dillane takes a place on the bench.

Against league leaders Scarlets, there will be a new half back pairing with Connacht born duo Jack Carty and Caolin Blade both named to start in a backline averaging just 23 years of age.

Tom McCartney is promoted from the bench to join Denis Buckley and Bealham in the front row. George Naoupu and Jake Heenan are both named to start in the pack in what will be the last game before the PRO12 takes a week’s break for 6 Nations action.

Ronan Loughney, Ian Porter and Craig Ronaldson are all named among the replacements.

Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, head coach Pat Lam said:

“While we were pleased with last week’s performance, we know that Scarlets present a completely different challenge. They are top of the league and will travel with confidence especially with their PRO12 form away from home.

“We know from our meeting with them last month that it will probably be a closely-fought contest once again and we will have to bring that clinical edge that was on show last week if we are to come on top.

“We are back at home on a Saturday afternoon for the second week in a row and we’re really looking forward to playing in front of a packed out Sportsground before we take a short break. A win would keep us in the ‘top four’ where we have been all season and would sign off this block of 16 consecutive games very nicely for us and our supporters.”

Connacht team to face Scarlets, the Sportsground, Saturday, January 30th, 3pm

15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Danie Poolman
13 Robbie Henshaw
12 Bundee Aki
11 Matt Healy
10 Jack Carty
9 Caolin Blade

1 Denis Buckley
2 Tom McCartney
3 Finlay Bealham
4 George Naoupu
5 Aly Muldowney
6 John Muldoon (captain)
7 Jake Heenan
8 Eoghan Masterson

Replacements:

16 Dave Heffernan
17 Ronan Loughney
18 Rodney Ah You
19 Ultan Dillane
20 James Connolly
21 Ian Porter
22 Craig Ronaldson
23 Rory Parata

Unavailable / Injured: Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White, JP Cooney, Andrew Browne, Ben Marshall, Quinn Roux, Sean O’Brien, Eoin McKeon, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Kieran Marmion, John Cooney, Dave McSharry, Conor Finn, Niyi Adeolokun, Darragh Leader, Ciaran Gaffney.

Porter's place-kicking is quite good. Might be worth a start considering our recent woes in that department.

I thought Blade was very good off the bench last Saturday (notwithstanding the opposition), would give him a start. Porter's been ok off the bench this year but Enesei away excepted I don't think he's been great starting.

If we don't get Marmion back who would you have start at 9, Porter or Blade? I'm sure Pat will pick Porter but IMO he just doesn't seem to be on the same wavelength as the rest of the backline (or maybe they're just not sure what he is going to do next). I think this might have a bigger bearing on the match than the 10 debate.

while many would believe that craig is the 10 of choice, pat does not seem to think so. So expect a toh, poolman, aki, henshaw, healy, marmion, carty backline for saturday with craig benched. And to give jack credit he has improved over time. Not sure I would have had the patience that pat has had with him but his distribution certainly has improved. Now its a matter of him working the backline better. It made sense to use AJ against Eni Sei. He totally opens up the backline but defensively is not proven. As such Jack has to start on Saturday if Pat is to be consistent

sea_point wrote:

Benji wrote: AJ doesn't seem good enough. I'd pick Carty as least he will learn from it long term. The kicking needs to be sorted out.

Ball in hand even in the few cameo's i've seen AJ offers a lot more than Carty, much more positive with possession.
Carty has had more than his fair share of opportunity over the last two season and been largely ineffectual ,

Kicking from hand and place kicking there's a fag paper between them (slightly o AJ's side). But if Ronaldson's fit, I'd go with him at 10and have Henshaw & Aki outside him....

I think Jack's distribution is better than AJ'S though
I'll admit MacGinty attacks the line more often than Carty - but often that just results in him getting swallowed up so I'd question the effectiveness of it
Think we all agree would love to see Ronaldson given a run at 10 but id pick Carty over MacGinty at this stage

connachta wrote:

Benji wrote:

sea_point wrote: I think Bundee at 12 helps Carty out and gets us on the front foot. It's no good having him at 13 if he doesn't get the ball.
Aki needs to be used more.

With Robbie 12, Aki will get some good transmissions to use

Yes, Outside of Robbie is great but when Robbie isnt there I'd have him at 12.
Would Robbie be playing 13 this weekend anyway?

Benji wrote:

sea_point wrote: I think Bundee at 12 helps Carty out and gets us on the front foot. It's no good having him at 13 if he doesn't get the ball.
Aki needs to be used more.

With Robbie 12, Aki will get some good transmissions to use

sea_point wrote:

Benji wrote: AJ doesn't seem good enough. I'd pick Carty as least he will learn from it long term. The kicking needs to be sorted out.

Ball in hand even in the few cameo's i've seen AJ offers a lot more than Carty, much more positive with possession.
Carty has had more than his fair share of opportunity over the last two season and been largely ineffectual ,

Kicking from hand and place kicking there's a fag paper between them (slightly o AJ's side). But if Ronaldson's fit, I'd go with him at 10and have Henshaw & Aki outside him....

Ya . If McSharry had been available this year we would have seen more of Ronaldson at ten. I'd have no issue giving him a few games at ten.
Carty v A.J . We were right to give A.j a chance but he hasn't been great or near it. His no better a kicker than Carty. But Carty for me has developed a better kicking game to move us around the pitch.
I think Bundee at 12 helps Carty out and gets us on the front foot. It's no good having him at 13 if he doesn't get the ball.
Aki needs to be used more.

clanman wrote:

rossie wrote: Liam Williams and hallam Amos the only players released to play this weekend.

Amos plays for the Dragons

I know. They are the only 2 released by gatland for this weekend.

If Schmidt ask Lam to play Henshaw as 12, I think it's a rare occasion to try Ronaldson as out-half

Which would mean if Marmion is released, the back-line we've all dreamt of :
9) Marms
10) Ronaldson
11) Healy
12) Henshaw
13) Aki
14) Poolman
15) TOH
21) Blade
22) Carty
23) Parata

How could we lose with that??????? :woohoo:

sea_point wrote:

Benji wrote: AJ doesn't seem good enough. I'd pick Carty as least he will learn from it long term. The kicking needs to be sorted out.

Ball in hand even in the few cameo's i've seen AJ offers a lot more than Carty, much more positive with possession.
Carty has had more than his fair share of opportunity over the last two season and been largely ineffectual ,

Kicking from hand and place kicking there's a fag paper between them (slightly o AJ's side). But if Ronaldson's fit, I'd go with him at 10and have Henshaw & Aki outside him....

i'm not convinced with AJ, his kicking from hand is poor

Benji wrote: AJ doesn't seem good enough. I'd pick Carty as least he will learn from it long term. The kicking needs to be sorted out.

Ball in hand even in the few cameo's i've seen AJ offers a lot more than Carty, much more positive with possession.
Carty has had more than his fair share of opportunity over the last two season and been largely ineffectual ,

Kicking from hand and place kicking there's a fag paper between them (slightly o AJ's side). But if Ronaldson's fit, I'd go with him at 10and have Henshaw & Aki outside him....