Borders no.2 wrote: Half way through the league season and we have 16 points from 11 games. Exact same as last season which fair enough the first few games were during the world cup but there were at least 3/4 games this season where the opposition were seriously weakened. We have had injuries but thats part and parcel of the game for every team and is no excuse imo. Lets not forget the figures are distorted by a 5 pointer against Leinster where most people would have us down for maybe a lbp.

I've watched a fair bit of Rabo Pro 12 rugby this year and imo this year the teams in the bottom half are extremely poor. Cardiff and Edinburgh are in dissarray. Zebre have 0 from 15, Dragons are the weakest I ever remember them. Treviso are doing ok but are no great shakes either. 7th and 44 points or at least 40 points imo was realistic but we have given ourselves a mountain to climb in the 2nd half of the season and even to match last seasons 37 points total we will need to improve get at least 5 wins ( 2 more than we managed in the 1st half of the season)

Too many tight games slipping away and not hanging in there for a bonus point in games that aren't going our way. Edinburgh, Munster and Cardiff were all games let slip, Scarlets at least a bonus point let slip, Glasgow, Harlequins bps were there for the taking and to get nothing away at Dragons was a very poor result. Even Biarritz away we had an extra man for 20 minutes but failed to take any advantage.

The players need to drag themselves out of their comfort zone and we need to demand more of them. I'm not doubting the effort tonight but it was genuine stupidity in the main which cost us. We have had too many seasons where we look back and say "wasn't it a great night when we beat Leinster, Biarritz, Harlequins, Ulster whoever" Connacht has to and should have moved on from that but we haven't we continually fail to follow through by letting winnable games slip.

We mightn't catch the big 3 provinces for the next few years in the Rabo but the players have to demand of themselves that we improve our position / points total year on year. While wins and performances in the HC are great for our profile the league is more important to Connacht in the next few years in terms of establishing ourselves as a side who are there or there abouts for mid-table each season which would hopefully allow us then look at a better standard of NIQ player.

A potential player will look at the Biarritz game and say they're not a bad side. Then he'll look at the table and see us scrapping it out with Dragons in 10th.

The support base is there, improved structures are in place off the pitch, a lot of young players have got game-time but ultimately its a results business.

You're not being realistic and your expectations are way out of line IMO. It is a recipe for a lifetime as a frustrated fan.

Injuries - no, they do not affect all teams equally. Some teams can call on guys with caps to plug holes, while others pull people from the AIL. We don't have the squad depth... because we don't have the cash.

Leinster result is dismissed as a freak, but losses to 'weak' sides are brooded over. (Edinburgh were far from weak, or in disarray when they came to visit.)

7th and 44 points or at least 40 points imo was realistic

Everyone in the bottom 5 from last year can't come 7th. There is nothing 'realistic' about it. It is a goal, but unlike running a 4 minute mile it is dependent on the sort of season other teams have, just as much as the sort of season Connacht have. If everyone improves - as they set out to do every season - then improvement doesn't guarantee anything.

Too many tight games slipping away and not hanging in there for a bonus point in games that aren't going our way. Edinburgh, Munster and Cardiff were all games let slip, Scarlets at least a bonus point let slip, Glasgow, Harlequins bps were there for the taking and to get nothing away at Dragons was a very poor result. Even Biarritz away we had an extra man for 20 minutes but failed to take any advantage.

When Connacht get beaten with such regularity in matches you don't think you should be beaten in, it is time to look at your expectation levels. We lost the bulk of those because the other side were better than us. And the tables shows that they are better than us over a range of matches and not just the season. It is undeniable that we are better than Zebre, regardless what their expectations are of beating us. The tables show it.

The players need to drag themselves out of their comfort zone and we need to <em>demand</em> more of them.

the players have to <em>demand</em> of themselves that we improve our position / points total year on year.

You suppose the players are in 'a comfort zone'. As there doesn't seem to be any other supporting evidence that they aren't winning matches you expect them to win because they are not working hard enough, that would be another sign that you should take a look at your expectation levels.

Aside from that, it is ludicrous to suggest Connacht players could magically improve their performances by others simply demanding that they do so. That's red-faced-roaring-coach-on-the-sidelines-Junior-B-football stuff, not pro sport.

columoc wrote: Fully agree with Borders. League is what counts.

This is why I have problem with the victim mentality that seems to be about. It's the IRFU s fault, the refs fault, Leinster's fault etc. While there is merit in each issue, Connacht will never improve until they take responsibility for themselves. This is why I am encouraged by them of not offering EOS an interview, maybe (hopefully), they are taking on he responsibility rather than relying on others like the IRFU to influence them.
We need an old Wimbledon mentality a la Bobby Gould.

Great post.

C'mon the crazy gang.

I like McFarland there and the guys we have I think deserve our loyalty but I have no problem adding more people to the staff. We all saw the massive improvements in the team when we got our first defense coach to constantly improve we need guys who specialise in other areas to get the best out of our guys.

For next season how about bringing in on next seasons coaching staff (maybe as a forwards coach)Andre Bester a South African who has coached in club rugby in Ulster and Rottherham in the English Championship and has had many players who have gone on to play International rugby after being under his unique coaching style

Agree with both you guys. What I'd like to see with whoever replaces EE is a bigger coaching staff with a particular emphasis on Skills. It's the old mantra do the simple things right and everything else will fall into place.

Also a dedicated scrum coach, no offense to Dan McFarland but we need someone to concentrate on it and also work on the younger boys coming up. Reggie Corrigan was chagrined about not getting the Leinster job so give him an interview or ask Greg Feek if he knows/recommends anyone.

Fully agree with Borders. League is what counts.

This is why I have problem with the victim mentality that seems to be about. It's the IRFU s fault, the refs fault, Leinster's fault etc. While there is merit in each issue, Connacht will never improve until they take responsibility for themselves. This is why I am encouraged by them of not offering EOS an interview, maybe (hopefully), they are taking on he responsibility rather than relying on others like the IRFU to influence them.
We need an old Wimbledon mentality a la Bobby Gould.

Half way through the league season and we have 16 points from 11 games. Exact same as last season which fair enough the first few games were during the world cup but there were at least 3/4 games this season where the opposition were seriously weakened. We have had injuries but thats part and parcel of the game for every team and is no excuse imo. Lets not forget the figures are distorted by a 5 pointer against Leinster where most people would have us down for maybe a lbp.

I've watched a fair bit of Rabo Pro 12 rugby this year and imo this year the teams in the bottom half are extremely poor. Cardiff and Edinburgh are in dissarray. Zebre have 0 from 15, Dragons are the weakest I ever remember them. Treviso are doing ok but are no great shakes either. 7th and 44 points or at least 40 points imo was realistic but we have given ourselves a mountain to climb in the 2nd half of the season and even to match last seasons 37 points total we will need to improve get at least 5 wins ( 2 more than we managed in the 1st half of the season)

Too many tight games slipping away and not hanging in there for a bonus point in games that aren't going our way. Edinburgh, Munster and Cardiff were all games let slip, Scarlets at least a bonus point let slip, Glasgow, Harlequins bps were there for the taking and to get nothing away at Dragons was a very poor result. Even Biarritz away we had an extra man for 20 minutes but failed to take any advantage.

The players need to drag themselves out of their comfort zone and we need to demand more of them. I'm not doubting the effort tonight but it was genuine stupidity in the main which cost us. We have had too many seasons where we look back and say "wasn't it a great night when we beat Leinster, Biarritz, Harlequins, Ulster whoever" Connacht has to and should have moved on from that but we haven't we continually fail to follow through by letting winnable games slip.

We mightn't catch the big 3 provinces for the next few years in the Rabo but the players have to demand of themselves that we improve our position / points total year on year. While wins and performances in the HC are great for our profile the league is more important to Connacht in the next few years in terms of establishing ourselves as a side who are there or there abouts for mid-table each season which would hopefully allow us then look at a better standard of NIQ player.

A potential player will look at the Biarritz game and say they're not a bad side. Then he'll look at the table and see us scrapping it out with Dragons in 10th.

The support base is there, improved structures are in place off the pitch, a lot of young players have got game-time but ultimately its a results business.