It will be a close game, because of our injuries. I think if we had a full squad and get a dry day, we would wipe the floor with them to be honest.

It will be they who will wish for poor weather and it is they who will look to slow the game down.

They have a poor skill set as a team, which for them is a shame, as they have a few cracking talents.

It will be interesting to see which way the game goes. It will be close I think. I hope for home advantage to count in the end.

No all support bases have a few idiots.

Could have said this before but I was on holidays in Parma a year or two ago, and called into an Irish bar called the Dubh linn or similar.

Owner recognised my jersey but told me he kicked out a few Connacht fans once, including our mascot!

Evil_g wrote: Obnoxious Connacht bandwagonners. Never thought I'd see the day.

It's just not Connacht is it

Evil_g wrote: Obnoxious Connacht bandwagonners. Never thought I'd see the day.

Agreed.

Accusations (even in jest) of incest aren't even remotely appropriate.

Evil_g wrote: Obnoxious Connacht bandwagonners. Never thought I'd see the day.

I think it comes with the territory.

Obnoxious Connacht bandwagonners. Never thought I'd see the day.

With Carty back in contention and SO'L only slightly beaten up (seemingly) I reckon we've more reason than ever to be optimistic.

Munster can't live with our style of play. The "Connacht Style" is becoming established and the norm, and it beats their boring grinding dirge everytime.

I think we'll win pretty handily - maybe 18 points or so.

Danie Poolman
Danie Poolman injured his foot during Saturday night’s game. The medical team are currently awaiting the results of a scan to determine the extent of the damage. The 27-year-old is ruled out for this weekend’s game with Munster.

Returning and available
Rory Parata and Jack Carty have both returned to full training this week and are available to the coaching team for selection.
Others
Jake Heenan
Jake Heenan sprained his other ankle during a training session last week. The 24-year-old back row has now been ruled out of action for 3 – 4 weeks.

Tiernan O’Halloran (quad) and AJ MacGinty (shoulder) continue with their rehab but it is hoped that they will be available for selection in the coming weeks.

The Connacht team to face Munster will be named on Friday at 12 noon.

connachta wrote: Official Pro12 count does not exclude sin-bin as gametime I guess. But anyway he also played 6 of the 7 ChallengeCup games. He is already close to 2000 minutes of rugby, within 7 months. that's amazing......

And if there is a God, please keep him healthy for another 5 games. He can then have a long rest and hopefully all his family will come to spend the Summer with him in Galway (and the West) and decide that it is the best place in the world to settle down for 10 years.

Official Pro12 count does not exclude sin-bin as gametime I guess. But anyway he also played 6 of the 7 ChallengeCup games. He is already close to 2000 minutes of rugby, within 7 months. that's amazing......

Aki's minutes can't be right as he's been binned a few times. However the fact he's been binned for longer than he's been rested only confirms that he's being flogged as you say.

I don't buy the "tired squad " alibi

Stats for pro12 (I know some players appeared in Ireland or Challenge games, but still give us a proper idea)

1520 potential minutes since September (19 rounds)

1) Buckley 1054
2) McCartney 999
3) Bealham 719
4) Dillane 412
5) Muldowey 1101
6) SOB 331
7) McKeon 654
8 ) Muldoon 1372
9) Marmion 923
10) Carty 849
11) Healy 1369
12) Robb 242
13) Aki 1509!!!!
14) Niyi 577
15) Henshaw 351 + 9 X 80 with Ireland = less than 1100

Aki is cleary overused. Healy and Muldoon on a lesser extent. The 12 other players likely to go for Munster were used less than 60 minutes per game average..No excuse, roll on the red army!!!!

I am worried about this one. I wouldn't consider Munster as Lannisters but Connacht like Starks have been weakened.

we should win this but not by much as I think we are starting to suffer from our injury woes, not just through missing players but also those players that havent been injured have played a lot of gametime, i thought bundee has looked tired the last few games. I'd prefer to see Henshaw at centre for this one as I don't think Munster will do much in the way of kicking, Healy should be fine at FB. Aly must be available and raring to go for this one having not played last weekend.

eezipc wrote:

RogueXV wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: Based on the squad update, I'd probably go with the following backline:

9. Marmion
10. Carty
11. Healy
12. Parata
13. Aki
14. Niyi
15. Henshaw

Have Cooney, O'Leary, and Carr on the bench
Just my preference

I won't say it can't happen but I think starting Parata and Carty might be rushing things. Maybe Pat mentioning Jack being put through some intense training might be an indication he'd like to start him, but this is some game to be coming straight back into it. I'd have them both on the bench and go for a backline like this:

9. Marmion
10. O'Leary
11. Carr
12. Aki
13. Henshaw
14. Niyi
15. Healy

21. Cooney
22. Carty
23. Parata

If I were a Munsterman, how would I target a man with a missing spleen? :silly:

You creep up behind him and shout "BOO"

Agreed. I think it's gonna be a tough game and I'd be very happy to win by 1.