Is So'ialo in the country at this stage? The last I heard a couple of weeks ago he was waiting on a visa?

Agree with Salmson, Swift and Muldoon are still on the bench, can influence the game, especially during half time and "money time" with all their experience... If you want a captain on the pitch maybe Duffy instead of TOH, Henshaw was a possibility too, I picked TOH 'cause he played more than than others in preparation.. And he might be our real future at fullback, this year particularly

Finn and Murphy were 50/50, I thought the 2nd one is probably more able to face Italain toughness..

not much to split Muldoon and Browne, on form from last year you'd probably go with Browne but how many times in the past have we seen Muldoon intervene with key moments in a game, he's a very smart rugby player and would be in the team for me for that reason.

i don't think any of "Les trois capitaines(-ish)" will start: Duffy's definitely out, Swifty's only just back form injury and most likely behind Clarke and Muldowney even if he wasn't, and it's hard to see Muldoon getting picked over Browne these days.

One other note on the team above (which is probably very close to what'll get picked) - Henshaw is supposedly available this weekend (according to the papers), though this hasn't been confirmed by the province.

Serious question, you don't have any of the three captains in the starting line up, do you think that's likely for the opening game? I think it will be interesting considering none of the three are absolute guaranteed starters these days, but I think for the first game at least there will need to be at least one of them on the pitch, after that it will probably rotate based on form/injury.

outside of that point I don't have a problem with your team, maybe Finn at 12 though but that's not a deal breaker.

With Poolman in the squad, McKeon and Nikora injured, for Zebre match I'd pick :

1 Brett Wilkinson
2 Jason Harris-Wright
3 Nathan White
4 Craig Clarke
5 Aly Muldowney
6 Andrew Browne
7 Willie Faloon
8 George Naoupu
9 Kieran Marmion
10 Dan Parks
11 Fionn Carr
12 Brian Murphy
13 Eoin Griffin
14 Matt Healy
15 TOH

16 Sean Henry
17 Rodney Ah You
18 Ronan Loughney
19 Michael Swift
20 John Muldoon
21 Frank Murphy
22 Craig Ronaldson
23 Dannie Poolman

Honnestly my hopes on Aly are based on Exeter fans comments, video highlights and Castres friendly, also he's n°5 which suits better with Clarke as 4.. Swift's getting older but I've nothing against him personnaly, such a great guy, careful and empathic!

connachta wrote:

The IMF wrote: <strong> I'd choose Alastair "Aly" (and not Ed) ahead of Swifty 'cause he was more involved in friendlies.. The rest of your team suits me</strong>

Haha sorry I'm not sure where I got Ed from? Would everyone mind just referring to Alastair as Ed from now on to save me further embarrassment? (Especially in person! I'm sure he'll get it eventually!)

Yeah hard to argue with you connachta, it would be loyalty to Swifty that swings it for me personally and the way in the last squad update they specifically mentioned he would be fit for the first game of the season but equally you could take that as he'll be on the bench.

The IMF wrote:
5 Michael Swift

19 Ed Muldowney I'd choose Alastair "Aly" (and not Ed) ahead of Swifty 'cause he was more involded in friendlies.. The rest of your team suits me

salmson wrote: Team for Zebre starting to sort itself out after the Wasps game:

Anyone care to guess on 12, wing, fullback or the composition of the backrow?

I'm going to guess....

Henshaw, Poolman, Griffin, So'oilao, Carr, Parks, Marmion; Wilkinson, H-W, White, Muldowney, Clarke, Browne, Faloon, Naoupu; Henry, Buckley, Ah You, Swift, Muldoon, POD, Carty, Finn.

I have a feeling (I hope I'm wrong) Henshaw is being rested as part of the Irish player welfare system, my guess would be:

1 Brett Wilkinson
2 Jason Harris-Wright
3 Nathan White
4 Craig Clarke
5 Michael Swift
6 Andrew Browne
7 Willie Faloon
8 George Naoupu
9 Kieran Marmion
10 Dan Parks
11 Fionn Carr
12 Brian Murphy
13 Eoin Griffin
14 Danie Poolman
15 James So’oialo

16 Sean Henry
17 Rodney Ah You
18 Ronan Loughney
19 Ed Muldowney
20 Eoin McKeon / John Muldoon
21 Frank Murphy
22 Miah Nikora
23 Matt Healy

I can't separate Muldoon or McKeon but sod's law we'll pick up a couple of knocks in the Newcastle game which will mean less of a selection headache for Lam. As you said 6, 12, 14 and 15 are up for grabs with Poolman not involved against Wasps and the Samoan not featuring so far.

Backrow: Muldoon, McKeoin, Naoupu.
Centres: Griffin, Poolman
Wings: Carr, Healy
Fullback: Henshaw

above selections are mine not what Lam will select

Team for Zebre starting to sort itself out after the Wasps game:

Front 5 set in stone thanks to Buckley's belly and Swifty's injury: Wilko/H-W/White/Muldowney/Clarke with Swift & Henry on the bench. God knows what the prop cover will be.

At halfback no challengers to Marmion and Parks, likewise Griffin and Carr will play 13 and one wing respectively.

Anyone care to guess on 12, wing, fullback or the composition of the backrow?

I'm going to guess....

Henshaw, Poolman, Griffin, So'oilao, Carr, Parks, Marmion; Wilkinson, H-W, White, Muldowney, Clarke, Browne, Faloon, Naoupu; Henry, Buckley, Ah You, Swift, Muldoon, POD, Carty, Finn.

hows out strength in dept can we compete when guys get injured which they win,what a signing Craig Clarke is

Guys, I think we never have had so many remarkable references in our squad! :woohoo:


1 Wilko (Wolfhound 2009, selected for 1st squad in autumn 2012)
2 JHW (Irish U20 + Hcup final with Leinster 2011)
3 White (Hcup final 2012 with Leinster) and Loughney (Played against N-Z in summer 2012)
4 Clarke (Double winner of super XV as captain)
5 Browne (Wolfhound 2011)
6 Muldoon (Ireland autumn 2012)
7 Faloon (Hcup final 2012 with Ulster)
8 Mckeon (Emerging Ireland 2013)
9 Marmion (Ireland 2013) and F.Murphy (2006 at Leicester having appeared in both the Guinness Premiership and Heineken Cup finals + Churchill Cup 2009 with Ireland)
10 Parks (scotland 66 caps)
11 Carr (Ireland Wolfhound 2012)
12 Mc Sharry (6 nations squad 2013)
13 Griff (Emerging 2013)and So'Oialo (Somoa 2013)
14 Poolman (Stormers and Western Province) and TOH(Ireland Wolfhound 2012+emerging 2013)
15 Henshaw (Ireland 2013) and Duffy (10 caps, 2011 Six Nations Championship squad)

EDIT : I could even have added Naoupu : N-Z 7's!

connachta wrote: Good news!
"I'm not too far away from fitness now and so I hope I only miss a couple of the games at the start of the season." Dave Mc Sharry


www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/16775.php

We really need him match fit by Oct 11th, I haven't heard anything recently about Tonetti, I wish they'd give us an update on the state of play with injuries either on the official Connacht webpage or the FB page.

Good news!
"I'm not too far away from fitness now and so I hope I only miss a couple of the games at the start of the season." Dave Mc Sharry


www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/16775.php