Leinster's scrum has shown itself to be much better than Glasgow's, and Connacht's was much better than Leinster's, so by the transitive properties Connacht's scrum will be much much better than Glasgow's, ergo we must target them there and score two penalty tries.

Even though I feel like the game is already lost through the lack of a tmo, I don't think its in our best interests to send a properly weakened team. Firstly I do genuinely think we can edge them in the scrum, and if that is potentially our one advantage then we shouldn't give it away. Similarly Glasgow have a quality second row and lineout and we can't afford to just hand them complete dominance, it will be hard enough for the first choicers to gain parity.

Secondly its just the start of the season, yes some players are tired but Mick Kearney played less than a half against Leinster, Muldowney has only played one full game so far iirc, its not unreasonable to keep both of them in the 23 and either rotate them, add Swifty, etc. This can be done without weakening the team. Same goes for props.


I would swap Ronaldson for Carty as I feel the former needs the gametime and the latter may need a rest. Marmion is a difficult call, he's been our main decision maker in the backs and Porter can't replicate that.

Glasgow has a serious mix of big brawny centres and elusive wingers, starting a new centre partnership, especially an undersized O'Leary/Finn, would be borderline dangerous. Although it limits options in some sense, an argument could be made for starting McSharry and Henshaw with O'Leary and Finn on the bench to give both senior centres a rest, but if it were up to me I'd prefer to give them both a home debut.

Fully agree with Connachta, even if we get a beating sending over a weakened team I think this is the wisest course of action, it gives some of the younger guys exposure to what will be expected of them at this level, no blame or expectation should be put on them, i know losing can have an affect on younger guys. Also the guys who are rested can still be training in Galway in preparation for the Cardiff game, I'd even cut down the number of our coaches being sent over so that the guys here can be training with one of the coaches here.

I know sport people dopn't look ahead and take each game as it comes however it's The absolute target that we get 2 wins from the next 3 matches, and to that end everything should be done to ensure we get the points from Cardiff and Treviso.

Anyway that's my masterplan, i hope Pat reads the forum..

2 key Glasgow players went off injured last weekend against Dragons. Niko Matawalu and Josh Strauss. To me neither injury looked too serious but theres always hope. . Also their flanker Tyrone Holmes was red carded for a stamping incident. I don't know if all red cards carry a mandatory ban period but if so I would have thought a minimum ban would be enough. Danger men to look out for are Tommy Seymour (he's the most dangerous wing we'll have come across this season- right wing so I'm guessing he'd be up against Matt Healy) and Stuart Hogg.

wp_rathead wrote: Delighted Faloon got all clear - but could do with being rested maybe with Heenan being out till March. Making sure he all set for Cardiff and Treviso.. (without meaning to sound Bradley-esque in targeting games)
Niyi deserves a break after his hectic 3 weeks - Healy and Poolman on wings for me

I assume to be politically incorrect but YES we must protect our best players for unwinable matches. it's one of them, Glasgow have punished Dragons while they were down to 14 men, And have on top of that, they will have the likes of Al Kellock, Tom Ryder, Finn Russell and Sean Maitland who will be pulling on a Glasgow shirt for the first time this season

Our heroes need rest, and players need gametime (Swift, Qualter, Loughney, Masterson, both Cooney, Layden, Finn, O'Leary, and Browne if back). On top of that, it still is a decent team with those names, and the best way for grabbing a BP is to put on the teamsheet very motivated players, who need to show themselves to make their way into the 1st team !

15) Layden
14) Carr
13) O'Leary
12) Finn
11) Healy
10) Ronaldson (need gametime)
9) Cooney (the same as above)

1) Loughney
2) Heffernan (but not the full 80)
3) J.P Cooney
4) Swift
5) Qualter
6) Browne (if back as expected)
7) Masterson/Fafita (Faloon has to be injury free)
8 ) SOB 2.0/Fafita

16) Delahunt
17) Bealham
18) Ah You (ok as he didn't play too much for the 3 matches)
19) Roux (ok as he needs to show how he is as an impact player)
20) Anyone available except McKeon Naoupu and Faloon
21) Porter
22) Nikora
23) Gaffney

we could agree at least to preserve key players like Henshaw, Poolman, one of Naoupu/McKeon, one of Kearney/Muldowney, Buckley, White and Faloon (with Heenan absence)
I can be more conservative without betraying too much my precautionary principle

15) Leader (Layden and then Muliana are ok in case of injury)
14) Carr
13) Finn/O'Leary (Henshaw rested)
12) McSharry (after all, he won't play that much when Aki arrives, apparently)
11) Healy
10) Carty
9) Cooney (Marmion took a knock anyway)

1) Loughney
2) Heffernan (but not the full 80)
3) Ah You (ok as he didn't play too much for the 3 matches)
4) Muldowney Or Kearney
5) Roux (ok as he needs to show if he could step up)
6) Muldoon
7) Masterson/Fafita (Faloon has to be injury free)
8 ) one of Naoupu/McKeon

16) Delahunt
17) Bealham
18) J.P Cooney (or White if you insist)
19) Qualter or Swift (Kearney or Muldowney rested)
20) Browne (if back as expected)
21) Porter (or Marmion if you insist)
22) Ronaldson (need gametime, should come into play early in 2nd half)
23) Adeolakun or Gaffney or Layden

I'm hoping at least we'll have some radio coverage.
BBC Scotland MW have it, but as I recall from previous frustrated efforts, the MW content isn't available online, even within Scotland.
www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland/programmes/s...w/2014/09/26#evening
I listened to Edinburgh away last season though. I think there was a stream to it in BBC Sport even though it wasn't on the iPlayer or something like that.
I don't suppose GBFM are sending Rob over?

2nd play 3rd and there's no tv coverage? What a joke

Makes you wonder why Sky aren't showing a top of the table clash.

Did I really just say that?

Sadly there'll be no Dail event on this week. TG4 are showing the Leinster match in the RDS, and BBC Alba are showing Edinburgh Scarlets.

Hang on a sec, I could've sworn that Connacht recently beat some of the clubs that TV channels are showing over us! Nah, must've been my imagination.

Delighted Faloon got all clear - but could do with being rested maybe with Heenan being out till March. Making sure he all set for Cardiff and Treviso.. (without meaning to sound Bradley-esque in targeting games)
Niyi deserves a break after his hectic 3 weeks - Healy and Poolman on wings for me

Willie is fit... I'm sure we all breathed a collective sigh of relief when we got to that line.

Following Friday night’s one point win over defending PRO12 champions Leinster, the Connacht squad were back in the Sportsground on Sunday afternoon to review the game and begin work ahead of the trip to Glasgow later in the week.

Second placed Glasgow and third placed Connacht will go head to head at Scotstoun stadium this Friday night (kick off 19:35) as both teams seek to keep their winning run intact.

There were some sore bodies following round three’s bruising encounter but the medical team reported no serious injuries. Flanker Willie Faloon and wing Niyi Adeolokun, who left the field on Friday night, both returned to training on Monday in Galway.

Danie Poolman also resumed training earlier in the week after recovering from the illness that kept him out of Friday night’s game.
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed Galway-born back Tiernan O’Halloran will undergo surgery on a troublesome knee tomorrow, Wednesday. The 23-year-old is expected to be sidelined for a further 3 – 4 weeks.

The match day squad that will depart for Glasgow on Thursday will be announced at noon that day.

Glasgow Warriors v Connacht
Scotstoun Stadium
Friday 26th September
Kick off 19:35
No TV