Newname wrote: A bit harsh on Halloran in my opinion.
I didn't think he did too much wrong he spilled one ball, that I can remember.
He took the ball up quite well a number of times in a game that Ulster defence had us well marshalled for the majority of the game, and not too many of our backs were allowed chances.

Absolutely right. Knocked on one ball but did everything that was asked of him in defence and attack otherwise. Unfounded criticism of individual players is extremely unfair. For what it's worth, we were bossed at the breakdown yesterday and that's where the game was won and lost.

Great to meet many of you pre and post game yesterday. Was good old skool craic.

my first visit and most likely my last to Belfast


pre game had a bit of craic with the majority of ulster fans.
during and after the game a small number of their supporters were disgraceful they way the acted.

booing bundee when he came off the page.
I never saw this in my life before at a Rugby match.
when they scored their winning try one of their supporters started to hitting me on the back of my head.
After the game we had to stop a ulster fan gloating at Finlay coming out of the dressing room.
he was shouting "better luck next time"
we asked him to go over and cheer his own team coming out of their dressing room.

i almost got into a fight in the chipper at the end of the night.
a guy came in and he rub my hair while i was eating and started singing stand up for the Ulster men.
I did, and he stopped singing.

majority of Ulster fans are brilliant. but there were so many bad moments that I witnessed yesterday which I have never experienced before at a Rugby match.

TOH is not the same player of three seasons ago. Unfortunately he has been consistently average to poor all season. His Classic trademark hop skip just doesn't work anymore as all the opposition know it. His previous strength under a high ball is gone with more knock ons now than catches this season. As basically an attacking fullback his defense was never his strong suit. With the attacking cut absent this season his defensive frailties of knock ons, positioning and missed tackles have come sharply into focus. We need a new FB the team need to have confidence in the FB with the consistency of his performance. Sadly the team doesn't appear to have that anymore.

A bit harsh on Halloran in my opinion.
I didn't think he did too much wrong he spilled one ball, that I can remember.
He took the ball up quite well a number of times in a game that Ulster defence had us well marshalled for the majority of the game, and not too many of our backs were allowed chances.

Disagree we need a back row to be honest. Fainga'a and Butler are two of our best players and when O'Brien is back he'll be the perfect brute to complement them in the back row. With Dillane and Roux there are also two big carriers in the row. With Boyle looking like a future star and McKeon, Copeland very able deputies and Masterson never letting the side down I think it would be a waste of funds to be honest. Bit misleading comparing anyone against Coetzee who imo would walk into the starting back row at any province and in a lot of tier 1 international teams. Could easily have been in the starting Bok back row and may well be in the future. Splash the cash on a tighthead, which won't come cheap, and a quality powerful back three player who will have teams thinking twice about kicking behind.

ALL of our forwards (and preferably backs) need to work on their breakdown work, especially protecting our own ball.

Felt a lack of power was our undoing today. We just had nobody of the calibre and strength of Coetzee in the back-row. We were unfortunate to lose Thornbury, but I felt Masterson played well in his place. We had the better line out, drew the scrums and had a potent maul. Unfortunately Jack had one of his quieter games, and that missed penalty to touch early in the first half having spurned the chance of a kick at goal was costly. Missed chance of creating some early momentum against the wind. Bundee I felt plated very well and was certainly up for it, but TOH's performance once again underwhelmed. The coaching team have a serious selection question to answer at 15 next season. Can we continue to accommodate a hot-and-cold TOH, or do we go for Leader from now on? One final issue is the composition of the back row and the lack of a ball carrier in the mould of Coetzee. IMHO we shouldn't be starting Jarrad Butler and Colby Fainga'a in the back row. They're too much of a muchness (7's essentially) and though they are both fine players and excellent professionals we need more beef at 8 than Jarrad brings. If Copeland's chronic injury-proneness is to continue then maybe we need to cut him and replace with a carrying No8 in the mould of Coetzee. With us having said a new tight head is shortly to be announced, I would say we need a ball-carrying 8, back up 10, and at least one (if not two) additions to the back three - a 15 and a strike winger are needed to fill out the squad for next season.

I always knew beating Ulster in Belfast twice in a season would be a tall ask but very disappointed all the same. Up until the Bundee try I thought we weren't going to even fire a shot. We allowed them have their way at the rucks and there's very little that can be done if you're not securing your own ball at the very least. I feel like we're really missing some power plays and tactical nous that is required for knock out games. It was especially disappointing as we had them in the lineout, scrum, maul for large parts of the game but didn't capitalise. Contrast with cooneys smart run down the blindside off one of their mauls - very simple but effective and caught us out. Don't want to be too negative as we have a really good squad right now and plenty of room to improve but next year will be very testing now we're back in champions cup and providing multiple players to the world cup (and possibly others kept on standby).

Boots09 wrote: Where are you guys heading pre-game. We are gonna head for Hatfield house to start with now anyway!!

Good squad of Connacht lads in the Errigle watching Munster game.

Where are you guys heading pre-game. We are gonna head for Hatfield house to start with now anyway!!

Won't be a problem anywhere you're likely to want to go.

A few arsey places in the city centre might ask you to cover a sports top, but most won't be bothered.

I've been wearing Connacht shirts all over Belfast for the best part of a decade and not once had a word said agin me...

Fair play was gonna ask the same question myself!!

hontherobe wrote: First time staying in Belfast. Few of us going up. Just wondering what the story is wrt wearing our Connacht jerseys in pubs before and after game

The popular pre and post game pubs near the ground no problem (Pavilion/Errigle/Northern Lights). Centre of town will vary pub to pub (may be asked to zip up coat etc)

First time staying in Belfast. Few of us going up. Just wondering what the story is wrt wearing our Connacht jerseys in pubs before and after game

Very excited, with the exception of their second row perhaps there's no one in their starting team that I would take instead of our own.

Bookies seem to have cut our handicap from +6 to +5 since the team announcement ...