So on Sunday or Monday of this week Joe is quoted as saying:

Ireland's camp is on early this week to allow a number of players, including Robbie Henshaw, play for their provinces this weekend according to Schmidt.

"We'll try and give guys two or three days off, a number of guys will return to their provinces. The provinces are in tight spots in the Pro12 placement at the moment," Schmidt said.

"Twelve of the squad that were involved in the weekend will turn out, a number of guys from the bench and then we want to get some guys more game-fit.A number of guys coming into the squad, even the starting team, haven't really had that much game-time. We just felt they were a little bit short and hopefully this will pay dividends in those last two Six Nations games."

But today Linley says:

Hopes were high that Connacht's latest debutant for Ireland, Ultan Dillane, would be able to join Nathan White, Kieran Marmion and Finlay Bealham for today's travel to the Scottish capital. However neither Dillane nor Robbie Henshaw will be joining the squad this weekend.

That's a bit strange.

connachta wrote: Focusing less on Henshaw and more about Dillane released or not is wiser IMO. Robbie is an addition in a functioning backline. Dillane would be a HUGE boost in a 2nd row with Marshall concussed, Roux just coming back and Muldowney overused.

Just read Linley's article. Alas neither released.

www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/83230/c...ock-horns-with-scots

ConnachtCows wrote: I just listened to the Craggy Island podcast. They have me very excited for this game.
Linley is always very realistic with her views, and she thinks we should be targeting a win here. That's enough for me

Yeah I'm a fan of Linley on that. Realistic but still has that glimmer of hope

I just listened to the Craggy Island podcast. They have me very excited for this game.
Linley is always very realistic with her views, and she thinks we should be targeting a win here. That's enough for me

Evil_g wrote:

salmson wrote: I think he more than made up for that in the last ten minutes of our game at home to the Scarlet's. We could / should have been down to thirteen men.

Scarlets were lucky they hadn't a few more carded in that game, Liam Williams was his usual filthy self for instance

He was shocking bad in the Newcastle away game too. He has an impressive amount of tries scored against us considering he's an official!

salmson wrote:

connachta wrote: he wasn't bad against Munster and Scarlets...

You mean the Munster game where he gifted Munster (and I quote unashamedly one-eyed Munster blog ThreeRedKings here) "the softest penalty try anyone will ever be awarded anywhere"?

Ah yes but we won. I think our win rate in games he's reffed isnt to bad.

salmson wrote:

connachta wrote: he wasn't bad against Munster and Scarlets...

You mean the Munster game where he gifted Munster (and I quote unashamedly one-eyed Munster blog ThreeRedKings here) "the softest penalty try anyone will ever be awarded anywhere"?

I think he more than made up for that in the last ten minutes of our game at home to the Scarlet's. We could / should have been down to thirteen men.

In general I think he's okay. Very good communication (with the ego to match).

connachta wrote: he wasn't bad against Munster and Scarlets...

You mean the Munster game where he gifted Munster (and I quote unashamedly one-eyed Munster blog ThreeRedKings here) "the softest penalty try anyone will ever be awarded anywhere"?

Benji wrote: Tough place to get results over the years but it would be great if we can keep the bus rolling and get the win. Lets hope the weather improves for us. Great to see so many travelling.
Has Muldoon picked up an injury? His a lad who could really do with two weeks off if we could manage it as we need him at his best come the end of the season. A break now could really help later.

Think Muldoon is available again for the weekend. As a guy who has played a lot of seasons for Connacht where at this time of the year not ending bottom was the big goal I'd say he's relishing every game of what is now (say it quietly) a playoff run.

As a bit of a pessimist even I had to accept after we beat Osprey (who for me are the best team to come to the sportgrounds this year): we're one of the best teams in this league, even when internationals come back in we're still better than most and competitive with all.

We have a tough run of games but none of those teams will be looking forward to playing us. The game I'm really looking forward to is Munster as if we lose it it will be considered an upset. Man for man we are better than them.....by quite a lot, only Stander and Murray could reasonable expect to walk onto our team and in the reverse scenario: Healy, TOH, Aki, Robbie (or Ronaldson), Dillane, Aly, White and McCarthy would walk onto the Munster team with guys like Buckley and Heenan 50/50 calls.

Edit: just thinking about it we have 3 THs than would start for them

he wasn't bad against Munster and Scarlets...

Ah no, not Pen Tryhouse again!

Tough place to get results over the years but it would be great if we can keep the bus rolling and get the win. Lets hope the weather improves for us. Great to see so many travelling.
Has Muldoon picked up an injury? His a lad who could really do with two weeks off if we could manage it as we need him at his best come the end of the season. A break now could really help later.

connachta wrote: Focusing less on Henshaw and more about Dillane released or not is wiser IMO. Robbie is an addition in a functioning backline. Dillane would be a HUGE boost in a 2nd row with Marshall concussed, Roux just coming back and Muldowney overused.

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/ult...land-debut-1.2554628

Pat's thinking along the same lines Connachta

Focusing less on Henshaw and more about Dillane released or not is wiser IMO. Robbie is an addition in a functioning backline. Dillane would be a HUGE boost in a 2nd row with Marshall concussed, Roux just coming back and Muldowney overused.

Robbie will most certainly be involved remainder of Irish campaign, from sounds of it Joe just wants to sharping him up seen as he only had Enisei and Scarlets game before 6 Nations

"We'll try and give guys two or three days off, a number of guys will return to their provinces. The provinces are in tight spots in the Pro12 placement at the moment," Schmidt said.
"Twelve of the squad that were involved in the weekend will turn out, a number of guys from the bench and then we want to get some guys more game-fit.A number of guys coming into the squad, even the starting team, haven't really had that much game-time. We just felt they were a little bit short and hopefully this will pay dividends in those last two Six Nations games."