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

Just thought I'd bump this thread back up to the top of the forum where it belongs.

Just been reading the papers about this match, getting excited now and to hell with all the sh**te that went on this week we're going to France to play a top French side out for revenge.

We've made them want Revenge!!!

Borders no.2 wrote: Biarritz have gone with a stronger lineup than I thought. They obviously want the home win. Good to see George Naoupu and Nathan White back, it makes the bench look a bit stronger than last week.

If we can get a losing bp out of this it'd be a very good result. All that I hope and pray is that we don't give up any stupid scores (like against Edinburgh) that will give Biarritz momentum. Like all French teams if they get up a head of steam at home we'll be thumped.

Lets not forget they lost to Treviso and Aironi away the last two years but had no problem dispensing of either comfortably at home.

Agree with everything you've said here Borders. Edinburgh were breaking our line at will. In fairness, we aren't normally that poor defensively, and we were very good last Friday in that regard, so fingers crossed that continues. I hadn't considered the fact Biarritz were beaten by the two Italian teams recently - that puts a slightly different complexion on last week’s result for me. Having said that, our lads should be full of confidence, so if we start well I’d be hopeful of a positive result. I also hope the Macca controversy this week will work in our favour somehow. Excited now – pity it’s not tonight!

Biarritz have gone with a stronger lineup than I thought. They obviously want the home win. Good to see George Naoupu and Nathan White back, it makes the bench look a bit stronger than last week.

If we can get a losing bp out of this it'd be a very good result. All that I hope and pray is that we don't give up any stupid scores (like against Edinburgh) that will give Biarritz momentum. Like all French teams if they get up a head of steam at home we'll be thumped.

Lets not forget they lost to Treviso and Aironi away the last two years but had no problem dispensing of either comfortably at home.

Yeah - they will need to prove they can do it against Toulouse/Clermont/Leinster. I'd back them to beat any of them at home, but in a QF or even SF it might be tricky. We'll see how they go when they play Leinster before Christmas, could potentially be a cracker.

Oh, and when your head is in the clouds, imagining a QF in the HEC featuring Connacht, it makes it easy to forget some of the more abject results we've been served up.....

Droptheclaw wrote: Yeah, that's what I was thinking, Diom, it would be interesting to see how three potential matches would square up against one (a run in the Amlin v a HEC QF). It would be amazing to see Connacht in the HEC quarters, but a run to the final of the Amlin could be fantastic - and a Dublin final too...

Isn't it great that we're justifiably talking quarter finals and what not.Nice to forget about losing at home to Treviso etc


Like many people ,i'm liking Ulster this year.I couldn't see them beating the likes of Toulouse or Leinster though ,so unfortunatley a semi-final or Final appearance is the best for them .Would gladly eat humble pie though.

Thanks Windsor - see you in Biarritz....

Traille a break?? Unless it's through someone that's very unlikely!! They will probably interchange quite a bit I guess!

Good luck to all and hope the weekend is as fun as last!!

I just looked at the weather, Windsor - 13 degrees and rainy during the day tomorrow, so it should be Galway conditions by 9pm - hopefully! Would Barraque not be better at 12 and Traille moved to 13, or is Traille so old now that he can't make an outstide break?

He's played OK when picked but we've swopped fly half's more frequently than most this year so hard to say. In my opinion he's not our best fly half but he knows Yach and Traille well and there is that mutual respect that seems to be important in French club rugby. Barraque is a seriously talented player but more of a fly half (reportedly going to Toulouse next year) ... It's certainly a back line that can score try's.

Keeping it up the jumper is fine if you are dominant but based on last weeks performance we were well beaten in the pack ... I'm hoping for a dry night but the forecast is for lots of rain!

I know Yach has been implying that they'll keep it up their jumpers, but with a back line like that, they could well do some damage. How has Peyrelongue been going in the Top 14, Windsor?

Biarritz team for tomorrow:-

1- Barcella
2- August
3- Gomez Kodela
4- Lund E.
5- Taela
6- Lauret
7- Lakafia
8- Harinordoquy (c.)
9- Yachvili
10- Peyrelongue
11- Brew
12- Traille
13- Barraque
14- Ngwenya
15- Balshaw

16- Genevois
17- Blaauw
18- Synaeghel
19- Dubarry
20- Lund M.
21- Lesgourgues
22- Burotu
23- Bosch

My wife has just called saying the Connaught players are on her flight and she's sat next to two very dishy guys (one of whom put her bag in the compartment with one finger ... swoon) who are very fit ... she asked if one of them was Ciaran McDonnell (four dogs) :lol:

ummm, wrote: Being able to spring White and Big George from the bench is a major plus, great to see them come back.

Definitely. Happy with that team. Cant wait for the game tomorrow

Being able to spring White and Big George from the bench is a major plus, great to see them come back.

One change up front for return Biarritz game



Connacht Rugby travel to the South of France today and prepare to take on Basque outfit Biarritz in round four of the Heineken Cup. Eric Elwood has named his side which shows only one change to the starting XV following last Friday’s 22-14 win over the former Heineken Cup finalists.

Johnny O’Connor replaces Willie Faloon in the back row where he is joined by Andrew Browne and Eoin McKeon. Faloon was ruled out of selection earlier this week due to a fractured eye socket he incurred at the Sportsground on Friday night.

Dan Parks will lead his side out tomorrow night as Connacht look for a historic French double. Parks is this season's leading points scorer on 48 points, bringing his all-time total to 403 points. The out-half is two points short of reaching the half-century mark in the Heineken Cup for the fifth time in eight seasons.

19 year old Robbie Henshaw, who this week signed a full contract with Connacht Rugby, will line out at full-back.

On the bench, forwards Nathan White and George Naoupu make a welcome return to the squad having both missed out on last week’s round three clash.

Connacht XV

15. Robbie Henshaw

14. Tiernan O’Halloran

13. Danie Poolman

12. Dave McSharry

11. Fetu’u Vainikolo

10. Dan Parks (captain)

9. Kieran Marmion

1. Brett Wilkinson

2. Jason Harris-Wright

3. Ronan Loughney

4. Mick Kearney

5. Mike McCarthy

6. Andrew Browne

7. Johnny O’Connor

8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements (from):

16. Ethienne Reynecke

17. Denis Buckley

18. Nathan White

19. Danny Qualter

20. George Naoupu

21. Paul O’Donohoe

22. Miah Nikora

23. Matthew Jarvis

Unavailable through injury: Gavin Duffy, Willie Faloon, Mata Fifita, Eoin Griffin, Shane Layden, Darragh Leader, John Muldoon, Frank Murphy, Dave Nolan, Kyle Tonetti*

*Kyle Tonetti has been in Germany this week undergoing intensive treatment on his recurring hamstring problem. Dr Hans Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, the specialist whose patients include Usain Bolt, has treated both Eoin Griffin and Danie Poolman this season. Centre Tonetti will return to Connacht Rugby early next week and hopes to be back training in the next two weeks.

Match Facts

·Connacht out half, Dan Parks, is now the leading points scorer this season in the Heineken Cup with 48 points.
·Biarritz have retained possession of the ball at 98% of the rucks and mauls they have contested this season, the best figure in the tournament.
·In Biarritz' last nine matches, they have followed a defeat with a victory.
·Connacht have won three of their last four Heineken Cup matches
Kick off at Parc des Sports Aguilera is at 9pm (local time)

The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports 2 at 8pm.


Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wal)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell (Wal), Kelvin Shorte (Wal)
Citing Commissioner:) Wade Dooley (Eng)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (Wal)

Yeah - looks like they're on for a home QF, Munster and Leinster(if they get through) will be looking at away fixtures, with Toulouse or Leicester, Toulon and Quins likely opponents. Not looking too rosy, but this weekend will shape things up nicely.