I'm in Biarritz. And it's p***ing with rain-and forecast for the night too. Quite windy too. Would reming you of a home match in the depths!!

One thing I thought from last week was that our defence was amazing around our 22 and our line.
We need to repeat that tonight.

Hon Connacht

RogueXV wrote: Parks will have to have a perfect kicking game both from the tee and out of hand (he'll need to give his chasers an actual chance on any garryowen, possession will be at a premium tonight he can't give it up cheaply). I suspect if Biarritz looked at the game video they will pepper young Henshaw with high balls especially if conditions are poor.

Good points. I'm not sure I understand Eric's insistance that his 10's kick so many garryowen's but if Dan is going to launch them, he needs to be more accurate than he was last week. He gets phenomenal height, but most of them were either way too deep, or nowhere near deep enough. In fairness, he normally does a better job in this facet, so hopefully it was a blip. Regardless, we all know a kick is only as good as the chase, and with Gavin not playing, our back three are generally weak under a high ball (especially Fets, who manages to get into position as the ball drops, but rarely even contends for the catch). Also, I thing Robbie is a great prospect - it's hard to believe how well he has played for such a young lad, but no team has tested him fully under the high ball. I know he made one great catch the last day, but in general, I think it is the weakest part of his game.

Last I heard, the weather was shaping up to be poor enough tonight. With the week that's in it, I'm hoping for a virtuoso display of tactical kicking from Dan, with Macca robbing line out ball at will, to set up rolling maul after rolling maul. Connacht victory, with Macca MOTM.

Anyway, with all that said, I just want to say good luck to the lads, and I hope everyone down in France leaves the ground minus their voices. I'm going to miss most/all of the game, but I'll be sneaking peeks at twitter. COME ON CONNACHT!

ummm, wrote: 34.73% of all superbru pickers went with a Connacht win last weekend.

Lol I was getting carried away with myself. Still its nice to know that others think a win is possible.

I'm excited for this match to get underway as well, but trying to keep expectations realistic. Parks will have to have a perfect kicking game both from the tee and out of hand (he'll need to give his chasers an actual chance on any garryowen, possession will be at a premium tonight he can't give it up cheaply). I suspect if Biarritz looked at the game video they will pepper young Henshaw with high balls especially if conditions are poor. I hope he was working with Gavin all week on that. Finally they have to get the restarts down. It's got to be demoralising to score and then turn around and knock on the restart. It just sets up the opposition to hit right back. They have the ability to give Biarritz a real game, but the old question of putting back-to-back performances together needs to be answered in the affirmative.

Won't mind seeing another shot like this

www.ercrugby.com/images/news/560SergeBlanco.jpg

howye lads, had an account on the old forum but lost all those details.

Anyway, good luck tonight, preview up on Dropkickrugby for anyone interested
http://http://dropkickrugby.com/biarritz-v-connacht-heineken-cup-rugby-betting

Aupa BO!!

34.73% of all superbru pickers went with a Connacht win last weekend.

I realise it means nothing in and of itself but it seems that just over 36% of people on superbru have predicted Connacht to win tonight, I wonder was there even that high a percentage for last week. Somehow I have managed to make this and last weekend the most awkward times/days for myself and missed last weekend and now will probably not manage to see this game live. Good luck connacht, maybe I will be able to listen to it on the radio at least.

Hell I'd take 0-0

Same here.

I'll take 3-0 to Connacht

Well all, getting closer to game time. 7 hours to go.
Any predictions for tonight?
I'm going to be positive and think with Dan at the wheel and a good scrum we can take it 26-17.

When was the last time we won in France? Against Montpellier?

This was the team:
Connacht: G Duffy, T Nathan, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, F Carr, M Nikora, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, A Flavin, J Hagan, M Swift, B Upton, M McCarthy, J O'Connor, J Muldoon.
Replacements: I Keatley for Nikora, half-time; A Browne for Swift, 70 mins.

Plenty of those bods in Biarritz today and it hopefully will stand to the starting 15.

ConnachtCows wrote: Today's not the day to be worrying about Tom Sears, The IRFU or Leinster Rugby

Come on Connacht. Dan the Man to steer us to a famous victory

+1

I cannot wait for 8 tonight, only 11 hours to wait to see Serg with a big depressed head on him again. Come on the West.