connachtexile wrote: Brett Wilkinson in the Eagles strikes me as an odd one.

If he's not putting in work then that's where he has to be.

I was talking to him a few weeks ago and he's not happy with the lack of game time. He's in a tough situation being under the player welfare thing at the start of the season and then being usurped by Buckley. No player is guaranteed their place which is good. It can only elevate competition for places and encourage the lads to strive to improve

Adam Byrne is a great player and I would say is more of a centre than a winger, he played at 13 for the Irish U18 clubs last year, he looked like a good player there. Big strong and fast, interested to see him at 15.

Adam Byrne for Leinster is one to watch. He's more of a winger to be honest but he's a big guy who has some tremendous pace. Brett Wilkinson in the Eagles strikes me as an odd one.

Eagles team announced for interprovincial clash with Leinster A

While the senior squad are on the road to face the Dragons in round 9 of the RaboDirect PRO12 league, the Connacht Eagles will take on Leinster A here at the Sportsground.

Following on from the tough battle last month against Newcastle Falcons in round two of the British & Irish Cup, Head Coach Nigel Carolan has made a host of changes to his side for tomorrow’s fixture.

Mark McCrea and recent Academy signing Steve Macauley are named on the wing while scrum half Paul O’Donohue makes a welcome return to the pitch tomorrow afternoon.

Flanker Eoghan Grace will captain the side and is joined in the back row by former Irish U20’s Internationals Dave Heffernan and Aaron Conneely.

Eagles Head Coach Nigel Carolan is looking forward to the game: “With round three of both the Heineken Cup and the B&I cup in just two weeks’ time, this is a great opportunity to give players a run out and have a look at different options.”

Connacht Eagles v Leinster A takes place at the Sportsground tomorrow Friday 23rd Novebmer. KO is at 5pm and Connacht Rugby season ticket holders can gain free entry to the grounds.

Connacht Eagles XV

15 Matthew Jarvis
14 Mark McCrea
13 Conor Finn
12 Brian Murphy
11 Steve Macauley
10 Jack Carty
9 Paul O’Donohoe
1 Brett Wilkinson
2 Kevin O’Byrne
3 JP Cooney
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Jonathan Gardiner
6 David Heffernan
7 Eoghan Grace (captain)
8 Aaron Conneely

Replacements (from):
16 Kurt Haupt
17 Paul Griffin
18 Peter Reilly
19 Brian McClearn
20 Paul Maxwell
21 Chris Lilly
22 Tadhg Leader
23 Callum Boland



Leinster A: 15: Adam Byrne 14: Andrew Boyle 13: Rory O'Loughlin 12: Jordan Coghlan 11: Max McFarland 10: Cathal Marsh 9: Luke McGrath

1: James Tracy 2: Bryan Byrne 3: Tadhg Furlong 4: Tadhg Beirne 5: Tom Denton 6: Ben Marshall 7: Conor Gilsenan (captain) 8: Jack Conan

Replacements: 16: Tyrone Moran 17: Shane Delahunt 18: Jamie Lawless 19: Jerry Sexton 20: Josh van der Flier 21: Dave Shanahan 22: Steve Crosbie 23: Tom Daly 24: Eoghan Quinn 25: Eoghan Masterson

Leinster team:

15: Adam Byrne
14: Andrew Boyle
13: Rory O'Loughlin
12: Jordan Coghlan
11: Max McFarland
10: Cathal Marsh
9: Luke McGrath

1: James Tracy
2: Bryan Byrne
3: Tadhg Furlong
4: Tadhg Beirne
5: Tom Denton
6: Ben Marshall
7: Conor Gilsenan CAPTAIN
8: Jack Conan

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Tyrone Moran
17: Shane Delahunt
18: Jamie Lawless
19: Jerry Sexton
20: Josh van der Flier
21: Dave Shanahan
22: Steve Crosbie
23: Tom Daly
24: Eoghan Quinn
25: Eoghan Masterson


I'm headin down after work for a look anyway

I'll go to this cos I've nothing else to be doing right now. Depending on the rain and how sideways it is I might watch my 1st game from the clan terrace side

Any logic behind having it so early on a work day ??

Heard a rumour that's it's to do with money saving. That Leinster can travel up and down the same day. Makes sense in that light but yeah it sucks if your a fan.

Shelflife wrote: Any logic behind having it so early on a work day ??

Dahgs. Do y'like dahgs?

Would love to go to this game , but the KO time is pure stupid. In this day and age
It's very hard to take time off to go to a game .
In this case I'd have to take a half day to see it.

Any logic behind having it so early on a work day ??

The Leinster A Team from this week:

Leinster backs [15-9]:

15: Dave Kearney
14: Andrew Boyle
13: Tom Daly
12: Brendan Macken
11: Sam Coghlan-Murray
10: Noel Reid
9: Adam Griggs

1: Jack McGrath CAPTAIN
2: James Tracy
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Tadhg Beirne
5: Ben Marshall
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Conor Gilsenan
8: Jordi Murphy

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Thomas Sexton
17: Jack O'Connell
18: Martin Moore
19: Jack Conan
20: Jordan Coghlan
21: Isaac Boss
22: Cathal Marsh
23: Adam Byrne

connachtexile wrote: I know I just realized I'd typed it the wrong way now! Argh!! What do you think of Archer Rossie?

not a fan to be honest. he reminds me of buckley before him and rodney here. good ball carrier but just cant lock scrum which is his bread and butter. Both ryan and cotter have done well on loan spells with london irish in aviva and cotter on bench for bath this weekend in lv.(hes there on month loan). irish fans were very impressed with ryan particularly and i wud fear an offer coming in from there soon if he doesnt get game time.

Imo its archer who should be loaned out for rest of season to see if he sinks or swims. The security of BJ on bench or on pitch ahead of him is distorting many peoples view of his ability. id like to see him regularly perform and see how he does.

Apparently Buckley is doing okay at sale which is a big surprise for instance. My fear is that they will stick with archer and loose the others as a result. Munster dont have a great record in this regard. All you have to do is look at Mike Ross in a leinster jersey to see that.

I know I just realized I'd typed it the wrong way now! Argh!! What do you think of Archer Rossie?

P.S. Edited it above.

connachtexile wrote: From Connacht Rugby:

It has been confirmed that the Connacht Eagles will take on Leinster ‘A’ at the Sportsground on Friday the 23rd of November with kick off at 5pm.

After a quiet month of fixtures for the men in green, the Sportsground will come alight once again for this interprovincial competition. Nigel Carolan’s men will be looking to return to form after their defeat to Newcastle Falcons last month against a Leinster team that has already been defeated by Munster ‘A’ this week.

Team will be announced next week.

Leinster A beat a fairly handy Munster A team this week with a huge amount of academy players in their team with Noel Reid having a superb game. The Munster Pack were absolutely dominated with Sean Archer been completely owned by Jack McGrath in the scrum. Makes his call up to Irish squad all the more surreal. I don't even know why Munster are sticking with him with Ryan and Cotter doing so well. This going to be a tough game have no illusions about it.

munster a won 18-12 and archer only came on as a 2nd half sub fot christy condon but didnt do well against o connell who apparently scrummaged very well.

From Connacht Rugby:

It has been confirmed that the Connacht Eagles will take on Leinster ‘A’ at the Sportsground on Friday the 23rd of November with kick off at 5pm.

After a quiet month of fixtures for the men in green, the Sportsground will come alight once again for this interprovincial competition. Nigel Carolan’s men will be looking to return to form after their defeat to Newcastle Falcons last month against a Leinster team that has already been defeated by Munster ‘A’ this week.

Team will be announced next week.

Munster A beat a fairly handy Leinster A team this week with Leinster having a huge amount of academy players in their team with Noel Reid having a superb game. The Munster Pack were absolutely dominated with Sean Archer been completely owned by Jack McGrath in the scrum. Makes his call up to Irish squad all the more surreal. I don't even know why Munster are sticking with him with Ryan and Cotter doing so well. This going to be a tough game have no illusions about it.