Borders no.2 wrote:

its_phil wrote:

Borders no.2 wrote: On a separate note getting a strong defensive coach in for next season is vital, we have cut down the number of tries we conceded over the season but some of the tackling we've witnessed in the last two home games has been woeful at a professional level, we were just lucky Glasgow failed to fully capitalise.

Poor tackling from players is not the fault of a defense coach. If a player is in a good position of making a tackle but doesn't make it, how is that the fault of a defence coach. Professional players are more than capable of tackling at this stage. He physically can't make the tackles for them. The number of tries we concede is at a pretty good level for where we are. If you have a problem with the way our line is set in defence or how we are leaving too many overlaps but the tackling issue can only be taken so far until players have to accept responsibility.

I know what you are saying but our lines of defence have become increasingly fractured in recent weeks and a number of tries or blown gilt edged opportunities in the past few games have been due to players shooting up in the line, missing a tackle completely and then you are chasing shadows when they get in behind. Both tries the last day were more than preventable if we worked as a unit defensively. Some of the individual tackling was poor and that's down to players themselves but the lines of defence need to be better than they were.

Our defence has improved but in recent times there are worrying signs and if they are ignored it doesn't matter how much our attack improves we will be chasing shadows.

That's fair enough if it is about how we are set up in defence. I'd probably agree. Murphy and Griffin haven't really clicked in defence. New ideas won't be bad thing either, but I don't think I would have minded if Forshaw had stayed on either.

One thing I meant to comment on was, did anyone else think the Glasgow defensive line was offside all night?

its_phil wrote:

Borders no.2 wrote: On a separate note getting a strong defensive coach in for next season is vital, we have cut down the number of tries we conceded over the season but some of the tackling we've witnessed in the last two home games has been woeful at a professional level, we were just lucky Glasgow failed to fully capitalise.

Poor tackling from players is not the fault of a defense coach. If a player is in a good position of making a tackle but doesn't make it, how is that the fault of a defence coach. Professional players are more than capable of tackling at this stage. He physically can't make the tackles for them. The number of tries we concede is at a pretty good level for where we are. If you have a problem with the way our line is set in defence or how we are leaving too many overlaps but the tackling issue can only be taken so far until players have to accept responsibility.

I know what you are saying but our lines of defence have become increasingly fractured in recent weeks and a number of tries or blown gilt edged opportunities in the past few games have been due to players shooting up in the line, missing a tackle completely and then you are chasing shadows when they get in behind. Both tries the last day were more than preventable if we worked as a unit defensively. Some of the individual tackling was poor and that's down to players themselves but the lines of defence need to be better than they were.

Our defence has improved but in recent times there are worrying signs and if they are ignored it doesn't matter how much our attack improves we will be chasing shadows.

On a separate note getting a strong defensive coach in for next season is vital, we have cut down the number of tries we conceded over the season but some of the tackling we've witnessed in the last two home games has been woeful at a professional level, we were just lucky Glasgow failed to fully capitalise.

To an extent I agree we let in some soft tries but I wonder if that couldn't be fixed by the skills coach? When a soft try went in at London Irish or a lad missed a tackle he was sent the next day to a "tackle clinic" were for an hour in the morning he and the other guilty would do nothing but tackle for that entire hour practicing technique as well as a bit of punishment for turning off mentally. Something similar could be done by Lam.

Nope if anything it's an attack coach, we still don't score anywhere near enough points and especially tries.

Agreed. I will find it interesting to see the difference if any Carr makes to the try count. That's my biggest complaint with Henshaw and Duffy is that they rarely if ever score. Henshaw got 1 this season and not sure how many Duffy did but we need our fullbacks to be involved more in our attacks. A good attack coach should be able to find a way to utilize them to maximum effect.

Borders no.2 wrote: On a separate note getting a strong defensive coach in for next season is vital, we have cut down the number of tries we conceded over the season but some of the tackling we've witnessed in the last two home games has been woeful at a professional level, we were just lucky Glasgow failed to fully capitalise.

Poor tackling from players is not the fault of a defense coach. If a player is in a good position of making a tackle but doesn't make it, how is that the fault of a defence coach. Professional players are more than capable of tackling at this stage. He physically can't make the tackles for them. The number of tries we concede is at a pretty good level for where we are. If you have a problem with the way our line is set in defence or how we are leaving too many overlaps but the tackling issue can only be taken so far until players have to accept responsibility.

sea_point wrote:

Borders no.2 wrote: On a separate note getting a strong defensive coach in for next season is vital, we have cut down the number of tries we conceded over the season but some of the tackling we've witnessed in the last two home games has been woeful at a professional level, we were just lucky Glasgow failed to fully capitalise.

Nope if anything it's an attack coach, we still don't score anywhere near enough points and especially tries.

We underperformed our final league position in Points & Tries For (9th in boths scenarios), and over performed our position in defence(7th & 6th respectively)...

I know the stats are improved but that is obviously down to having a defensive coach. We can't go back to the days of Bradley when any team who strung together a few phases opened us up. We must continue to make ourselves hard to beat and then try and find someone who can knit together a backline who in theory are underperforming as a unit.

swift4prez wrote: i remember!!!

as i said few weeks ago, i have no problem with players drinking after a match, they have a week to get into match mode, now my problem was last weekend!!
they had an end of season dinner, they more then likely drank, no problem.. my problem is the "end of season" part. how can players play a week later when they have the mindset that the season is over.
people will say that players leave after the match, go on holiday etc, but if they cant stay around a day or two after then they really cant be arsed going to the end of season dinner.
anyone who saw the game lastnight that most of them players were dropping the ball with there mind on a holiday. its not on!!

all i ask is that next year the branch plan the dinner after the last match. it does no favour for us

Agree 10000%, I know there was a thread about this before and a few drinks after a game is a part of the culture etc etc but professional athletes need to keep their mind on the next game around, there are enough breaks in the season for guys to have a drink without the worry of a game in 5-6 days. Or at least regulate it to only being allowed go out after a win.

Borders no.2 wrote: On a separate note getting a strong defensive coach in for next season is vital, we have cut down the number of tries we conceded over the season but some of the tackling we've witnessed in the last two home games has been woeful at a professional level, we were just lucky Glasgow failed to fully capitalise.

Nope if anything it's an attack coach, we still don't score anywhere near enough points and especially tries.

We underperformed our final league position in Points & Tries For (9th in boths scenarios), and over performed our position in defence(7th & 6th respectively)...

I'd agree Swift4prez. Surely an end of season event on Saturday evening wouldn't have resulted in anyone having to wait around too long.It would be ok if our performance was up to scratch but it was miles away from it. People might say its alright we got 8th anyway but even psychologically for Connacht if we could have got into the 40+ points category its another step forward. Even at our best I think Glasgow would have beaten us, they have proven me wrong this season, they have pushed on and played some fine rugby, their overseas signings are the envy of nearly everyone. but we only once worried them in the entire game.

George Hook is an idiot but in fairness people can only judge from what they watch and since he only watches about 2 Connacht games a season (max) it would be easy enough to form that impression too. It was a rare opportunity for us on RTE to showcase our qualities but that performance gave Hook and that waste of space Daire O'Brien the ammunition they needed to run Connacht down.

It leaves a sour taste in the mouth at the end of a decent 2nd half to the season.

On a separate note getting a strong defensive coach in for next season is vital, we have cut down the number of tries we conceded over the season but some of the tackling we've witnessed in the last two home games has been woeful at a professional level, we were just lucky Glasgow failed to fully capitalise.

i watched george hook talking about the match, he was saying connacht players are here for the money and that our players that arent from ireland is very poor. who does he mean. poolman who has a good try record per game? nathan white who is the 2nd best TH in ireland. dan parks highest scorer ever in the league? fetu? list goes on and on.

George Hook is a retard. I just stick the TV on mute everytime I see his gurning face. You should do the same.

it shows what a great player JOC is when the glasgow bench stood up and clapped him of, so did george clancy.

I didn't see that. That was classy of them and Clancy. Fair play.

hey had an end of season dinner, they more then likely drank, no problem.. my problem is the "end of season" part. how can players play a week later when they have the mindset that the season is over.
people will say that players leave after the match, go on holiday etc, but if they cant stay around a day or two after then they really cant be arsed going to the end of season dinner.
anyone who saw the game last night that most of them players were dropping the ball with there mind on a holiday. its not on!!

all i ask is that next year the branch plan the dinner after the last match. it does no favour for us

+1

i remember!!!

as i said few weeks ago, i have no problem with players drinking after a match, they have a week to get into match mode, now my problem was last weekend!!
they had an end of season dinner, they more then likely drank, no problem.. my problem is the "end of season" part. how can players play a week later when they have the mindset that the season is over.
people will say that players leave after the match, go on holiday etc, but if they cant stay around a day or two after then they really cant be arsed going to the end of season dinner.
anyone who saw the game lastnight that most of them players were dropping the ball with there mind on a holiday. its not on!!

all i ask is that next year the branch plan the dinner after the last match. it does no favour for us

match was awful, not as bad as zebre in the heineken cup but it was bad. watched pieces on the tv there, but much tho.
it shows what a great player JOC is when the glasgow bench stood up and clapped him of, so did george clancy.
it was great at the end eric going on the pitch and players stayed bit aswel.
i watched george hook talking about the match, he was saying connacht players are here for the money and that our players that arent from ireland is very poor. who does he mean. poolman who has a good try record per game? nathan white who is the 2nd best TH in ireland. dan parks highest scorer ever in the league? fetu? list goes on and on.

was nice catching up with the lads from this place and first time meating ummmm,!
gaillimhabu looked good in his joc tshirt.

(i know im forgettin something else)

I'm not sure if anyone did get a pic, but he did get a big belly laugh out of it.

And good to meet Ummm too!

I'm glad, really bummed I couldn't make this game but money, distance etc.

Not only did he see the T-shirt, he was given one by someone, along with the Hall of Fame trophy and the framed picture.

Cheers to everyone who waited around, definitely worth it in the end! Pictures and videos should be up during the week.

He saw the t-shirts then? Sweet! Did anyone get pictures?

Not the greatest way to end the season, but even the greatest performance would have been tinged with sadness giving the warriors who won't be with us next season.

Thanks to all who waited around after for the Player Awards and especially those who stuck it out for the HoF.

I'll be honest, I think Johnny got a bigger kick out of the t-shirt than anything else.