How did the match pan out? Anyone go along?

It makes a lot more sense to name 2 different sides for each half rather than drip feed 12 substitutions onto the field from 50 minutes and destroy the game.

I had a real feeling we were severely undercooked against Cardiff last year, this year's preseason looks a lot more coherent.

Borders no.2 wrote: I'm a bit surprised to see 2 separate teams out again but we have another run out next week

I think it's the key point, It would have been a bad choice last year, with only 2 pre season friendly matches

I'm a bit surprised to see 2 separate teams out again but we have another run out next week so I'm sure he wants to see all full options with a long season ahead. It keeps the whole squad on its toes.

I thought we'd see the side more settled this week but I'd imagine he has a fair idea of his team at this stage.

Also I'm glad to see Pat Lam laying down the law early on. Whether it should have been dealt with more in-house, I don't know, but since I don't know or want to know the circumstances you have to trust he hasn't taken this course of action lightly and has done it in the interests of setting the right tone for the squad as a whole.

Just wanted to expand on the post above. A part of me is really happy that Lam is giving the young backs in the academy a chance and that he has embraced the whole 'if their good enough their old enough' mantra. Guys like Carty and Parata don't need to be as developed physically as the academy forwards so lets throw them in and see how they can do. I think if Conor Finn can continue to play well he could be our version of Stuart Olding this year.

That said I dislike seeing two different teams out on the pitch again. It gives me soccer flashbacks of when guys like Sven Goran Eriksen used to put two different teams on the pitch for friendlies. While its fine for 1 game I'd like to see guys like Muldowney, Ronaldson and Heenan playing a nearly full game with our first XV and start gelling with them. I understand Lam's philosophy and it's not a big thing and with no Clarke or Solianlo it probably makes sense but Rugby is a game of combinations and waiting for the season to start before starting the combination process has me a little antsy. That said the pro's probably out weight the cons in the long run (hopefully). What do you guys think? Our first XV for 60 mins or the 2 different teams per half?

Some random thoughts on the selection:

1st Half

15 Tiernan O’Halloran - he's being mooted as a 15 for some time but hasn't really played there will be interested to see how he does here.
14 Fionn Carr
13 Eoin Griffin
12 Brian Murphy
11 Matt Healy
10 Jack Carty - Good to see him get gametime as he impressed the few chances he got last year.
9 Frank Murphy - needs to get rid of the cobwebs after such a long lay off.

1 Brett Wilkinson
2 Sean Henry*
3 Ronan Loughney
4 Aly Muldowney*
5 Andrew Browne © - Glad that he was made captain if he can stay fit could be a big season for him.
6 John Muldoon
7 Willie Faloon
8 Eoin McKeon

2nd Half

15 Shane Layden
14 Tiernan O’Halloran
13 Rory Parata* -
12 Conor Finn* - really happy to see him get another chance at 12.
11 Steve Macauley*
10 Craig Ronaldson*
9 Paul O’Donohoe

1 JP Cooney - really happy he's being played in his proper position and not shunted over to the TH siDe.
2 Dave Heffernan
3 Rodney Ah You
4 Aly Muldowney*
5 Danny Qualter
6 Mata Fifita
7 Aaron Conneely* - didn't play last week and will want to show Lam what he can do.
8 George Naoupu ©

Well spoken sea_point.
Firstly they are representing themselves, their family, their team mates.
We just need to remind them of that, and that dream that got them to where they are.

When that dream dies then it is time to stop. These guys know what is right and wrong in life and the wrong will always take away those dreams.

clanman wrote: what's clear to me is that the young lads need to step up this year and be as professional off the field as on the field. That's not to say they can't enjoy themselves but they have to realise that they have a responsibilty to the club,teammates and fans and give respect back. We don't want to see our lads in the papers like those 2 fools in a romp in Dublin.

Our Local lads in particular have most to lose and are most vulnarable, as the Connacht profile gets bigger they are most at risk from disgruntled acquaintances selling/telling stories that if they get back to management/into the media could seriously embarrass them. The lads for outside of Galway/Connacht have more scope because they will be less recognised about town and have fewer prying eyes...

The thing is as their profile grows, they should know just cannot get away with the sort of behaviour that Joe Public can, and if they can't accept that then perhaps the life of a professional rugby player and the sacrifices necessary is not for them...

going against team protocol is one thing, but getting a good ole spit roast on is another!!!!!

media is a joke trying to make a story out of that....who give s a feck eh....more power to them both!!!

wouldnt want to be the girl's dad though!!!

what's clear to me is that the young lads need to step up this year and be as professional off the field as on the field. That's not to say they can't enjoy themselves but they have to realise that they have a responsibilty to the club,teammates and fans and give respect back. We don't want to see our lads in the papers like those 2 fools in a romp in Dublin.

The IMF wrote:

FurboFan wrote: Anyone know what Denis Buckley did?

"** Denis Buckley is currently unavailable for selection due to breach of team standards. This has been dealt with in-house and his availability will be confirmed in due course."

Had a quick look on Twitter and found this, no idea how accurate it is:

<strong>Rugby Opinion ‏@RugbyOpinion6 20m
Denis Buckley letting himself and Connacht down again. He's had a breach of fitness standards. Saw him pissed a few weeks ago. Such a shame</strong>

One thing to be missing games due to exams but this is a poor from Denis especially when you'd think he'd be busting a gut to impress the new coach.

Whatever occurred is between him and his employer, let's leave it at that. He's a young lad and they make mistakes, we've all done stupid sh*t in our lifetimes some of us (me) more than most...

I see his Twitter account has ceased to exist as a result...

Real backbone of the squad in the unavailables...

Connacht Rugby wrote: Unavailable: Finlay Bealham, Denis Buckley**, Craig Clarke, Gavin Duffy, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Nolan, Danie Poolman, Dave McSharry, James So’oialo, Michael Swift, Kyle Tonetti, Nathan White - See more at: www.connachtrugby.ie/2013081683399/lam-n...sthash.WxHr6xQp.dpuf

Parata involved

Lam names teams for second pre-season clashTrainingMulAaron resized

Having played the French Champions Castres Olympique in the first pre-season fixture last week, Connacht continue their preparations with a game against London Wasps at the Sportsground this Saturday, kick off 5pm.

In his first home game in charge, Head Coach Pat Lam has named both a first and second half team. The Head Coach will make use of the large squad available to him in pre-season and has named a 10-man replacements bench.

The line-up once again shows a combination of youth and experience as the coaches look to blend the new summer signings and development players into the squad. In total, eight academy players will be involved in tomorrow’s fixture and 15 Connacht-born players will be given game time. This evening’s fixture presents another opportunity for Connacht to test out the new systems and structures against a tough opposition.

The starting line-up sees Frank Murphy, who was side-lined last season due to injury, return to the fray. His half back partner Jack Carty also gets his first game of the season. The third year Academy player was unavailable to travel to France last week due to exams.

Galway man Eoin McKeon also gets his first run out this season, starting at Number 8 and second row Andrew Browne captains the first half team.

Among those making their debut in the second half for the Connacht senior side is first year Academy recruit Rory Parata. Parata, who celebrated both his 19th birthday and his Leaving
Certificate
results this week, was selected to represent Ireland in their two U19 Internationals against England and France in April of this year.

Up front, Academy graduates Aaron Conneely and Dave Heffernan will start the second half. George Naoupu, at Number 8, will captain the second half team.

A small group of players remain unavailable due to injury. Mayo man Gavin Duffy suffered a knock to his cheekbone in training this week and is unfortunately ruled out of selection for a number of weeks.

Head Coach Pat Lam said:

“Not having Gavin available is a big loss. He has been superb for us in pre-season and I’m disappointed for him. But it’s a long season and I have no doubt that someone with his experience will remain a huge part of the team and will come back stronger following his recovery.“

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s game, he added “The biggest thing for us is that we play as a team. We have done a lot of work in pre-season over the last 11 weeks and the squad are full of energy. What we have now is a squad that needs to play for each other, and understanding we can only compete if we play as a team is so important. We cannot rely on anybody but we have to rely on everybody.”

Following tomorrow’s game, Connacht will then complete their preseason schedule the following weekend at Kingston Park, where they will take on Newcastle Falcons in the final warm up game before the opening game of the RaboDirect PRO12 on September 7th at the Sportsground, where they will take on Zebre.

Connacht v London Wasps

1st Half

15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Fionn Carr
13 Eoin Griffin
12 Brian Murphy
11 Matt Healy
10 Jack Carty
9 Frank Murphy

1 Brett Wilkinson
2 Sean Henry*
3 Ronan Loughney
4 Aly Muldowney*
5 Andrew Browne ©
6 John Muldoon
7 Willie Faloon
8 Eoin McKeon

2nd Half

15 Shane Layden
14 Tiernan O’Halloran
13 Rory Parata*
12 Conor Finn*
11 Steve Macauley*
10 Craig Ronaldson*
9 Paul O’Donohoe

1 JP Cooney
2 Dave Heffernan
3 Rodney Ah You
4 Aly Muldowney*
5 Danny Qualter
6 Mata Fifita
7 Aaron Conneely*
8 George Naoupu ©

Replacements: Miah Nikora, Kieran Marmion, Jake Heenan*, Conor Kindregran*, Jason Harris-Wright, James Rael*, Peter Reilly*, Marcus Walsh*, Dan Parks, Tadhg Leader*

*Denotes uncapped player

Unavailable: Finlay Bealham, Denis Buckley**, Craig Clarke, Gavin Duffy, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Nolan, Danie Poolman, Dave McSharry, James So’oialo, Michael Swift, Kyle Tonetti, Nathan White

** Denis Buckley is currently unavailable for selection due to breach of team standards. This has been dealt with in-house and his availability will be confirmed in due course.

The 2013/14 season starts this Saturday.


- See more at: www.connachtrugby.ie/2013081683399/lam-n...sthash.v5GT1PjG.dpuf

FurboFan wrote: Anyone know what Denis Buckley did?

"** Denis Buckley is currently unavailable for selection due to breach of team standards. This has been dealt with in-house and his availability will be confirmed in due course."

Had a quick look on Twitter and found this, no idea how accurate it is:

Rugby Opinion ‏@RugbyOpinion6 20m
Denis Buckley letting himself and Connacht down again. He's had a breach of fitness standards. Saw him pissed a few weeks ago. Such a shame

One thing to be missing games due to exams but this is a poor from Denis especially when you'd think he'd be busting a gut to impress the new coach.

does it have anything to do with Gavin's injury? he may be daft but he's not that stupid I hope.

Also I noticed that Buckley disappeared from Twitter yesterday, his account was suspended ot removed

Anyone know what Denis Buckley did?

"** Denis Buckley is currently unavailable for selection due to breach of team standards. This has been dealt with in-house and his availability will be confirmed in due course."

Apparently Gavin Duffy has picked up facial injury in training an will be out for several weeks