clanman wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: I saw Marmion walking through Galway on Friday evening. He was either released very late, or Connacht had planned without him for the week, and decided to let him rest.
Porter is really impressing as our 2nd choice scrum half. Its great that we can choose to give Marmion a break, if management think he needs it

You've got to be kidding about Porter, 2 kick-outs on the full, indecisive at times. ok so he can kick points but that's about all I can say good about thim. Cooney looked sharper when he came on. I think we're really in trouble without Marmion in the important games

Porter takes a BIG wind-up before a pass. He needs to cut that out. Otherwise I'm happy enough with him, although he definitely is not at Marmion's level.
Haven't seen enough of Cooney to be definitive but he at least is sharper with the passes.

connachta wrote: Rumours about him staying or going back in a month?

Staying until May is very much expected

salmson wrote:

galway_gas wrote: He's not eligible to play in either of Bayonne games or against Leinster (part of terms of loan) so I'd hope to see him on the bench against Scarlets.

The not-playing-against Leinster thing was flagged up months ago, but the not playing in Europe (he's not in our squad) condition is bizarre, as he's here on a ful season's loan (anyone heard otherwise?).

On the other hand Roux, who could go back to them in January, is now cup-tied in Europe and has already played a part in beating his parent team in the league.

I suspect that its not a straightforward 1 year loan. i.e they could call him back at any stage.

Rumours about him staying or going back in a month?

salmson wrote:

galway_gas wrote: He's not eligible to play in either of Bayonne games or against Leinster (part of terms of loan) so I'd hope to see him on the bench against Scarlets.

The not-playing-against Leinster thing was flagged up months ago, but the not playing in Europe (he's not in our squad) condition is bizarre, as he's here on a ful season's loan (anyone heard otherwise?).

On the other hand Roux, who could go back to them in January, is now cup-tied in Europe and has already played a part in beating his parent team in the league.

Took me awhile to warm to Roux - didn't really rate his early games for us - but he has become very important player lately

galway_gas wrote: He's not eligible to play in either of Bayonne games or against Leinster (part of terms of loan) so I'd hope to see him on the bench against Scarlets.

The not-playing-against Leinster thing was flagged up months ago, but the not playing in Europe (he's not in our squad) condition is bizarre, as he's here on a ful season's loan (anyone heard otherwise?).

On the other hand Roux, who could go back to them in January, is now cup-tied in Europe and has already played a part in beating his parent team in the league.

clanman wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: I saw Marmion walking through Galway on Friday evening. He was either released very late, or Connacht had planned without him for the week, and decided to let him rest.
Porter is really impressing as our 2nd choice scrum half. Its great that we can choose to give Marmion a break, if management think he needs it

You've got to be kidding about Porter, 2 kick-outs on the full, indecisive at times. ok so he can kick points but that's about all I can say good about thim. Cooney looked sharper when he came on. I think we're really in trouble without Marmion in the important games

Agree Cooney had a good game on friday. Put in a good few tackles when he came on. Was chatting to him in terraces a few weeks back. He's not eligible to play in either of Bayonne games or against Leinster (part of terms of loan) so I'd hope to see him on the bench against Scarlets.

ConnachtCows wrote: I saw Marmion walking through Galway on Friday evening. He was either released very late, or Connacht had planned without him for the week, and decided to let him rest.
Porter is really impressing as our 2nd choice scrum half. Its great that we can choose to give Marmion a break, if management think he needs it

You've got to be kidding about Porter, 2 kick-outs on the full, indecisive at times. ok so he can kick points but that's about all I can say good about thim. Cooney looked sharper when he came on. I think we're really in trouble without Marmion in the important games

I saw Marmion walking through Galway on Friday evening. He was either released very late, or Connacht had planned without him for the week, and decided to let him rest.
Porter is really impressing as our 2nd choice scrum half. Its great that we can choose to give Marmion a break, if management think he needs it

Edinburgh win with no bonus points for either side and move up to 15 points, 8 behind us. Edinburgh will fancy their chances of 2 wins and possibly bonus points against the Italians in their next two games and then face the Scottish derbies against Glasgow over Christmas and the new year. The game on the 9th of January at the Sportsground is another to circle in the must win category.

Cardiff have a few home games coming up and wouldn't write them off just yet but 15 is a significant deficit to make up.

Edinburgh 16-6 up on Cardiff at Murrayfield. Match is on S4C. Cardiff giving away a lot of needless penalties at the breakdown. Vital game this one for both sides. If Cardiff fail to pick up any points, they will be 15 points behind us. However, both sides look to have favourable runs coming up after this but personally I think an Edinburgh win would be best for us here.

Magpie wrote:
Agreed. Some people in the crowd around me were upset at us repeatedly going for the posts early doors, it was almost as if the scars of Cardiff were fully healed. Keep the score board ticking over, take your points, break the opposition. Win the game first, then go for the bonus.

I did question the decision for the 2nd kick at goal. Porter just missed a kick from closer in from a similar angle. Didn't think it was on and it proved not to be. I'm all for keeping the scoreboard ticking over but make sure you do otherwise frustration my seep into your game.

In the toilets (no mockery please :lol: ) I was thinking we could have the best backline in all Ireland on the paper if we convert Leader to 10 : Marmion Leader Aki Henshaw Poolman Healy Muliana can be together as a full international-material backline
Sweet dream, but for next season, who knows... :whistle:

clanman wrote: Some interesting positional decisions will have to be made by Lam, for me the 2 changes in the backs I would make are Marmion for Porter and Henshaw for Mils. I think the McSharry/Aki combination has a better balance to it, the Ronaldson experiment didn't really work and Mcsharry was hard done by in my opinion, yet again defensively he was excellent this evening. In the forwards I would just change the front row and bring in Rodney and McCartney, I doubt if JHW will be fit.

Clanman, did you take a knock to the head during the game? There's no way Henshaw will be playing FB anytime soon. Unless he has a total meltdown in the Oz game there is no way Schmidt is going to let that happen. And there is no way Connacht could even make an appeal to him since there are two extremely capable players to fill the spot. McSharry & Bundee may get another chance together but when Henshaw returns it will be at centre and one of them will lose out.

Clearly, it will be a WWK (who will kick) question mark..
I think Carty will start, as Nikora hasn't the range, and Porter will be on the bench
If JHW is out, I'd put Loughney back to LH (moved once again, poor guy!). It's the only reasonable solution to have a full substitute front row : 1)Buckley 2)McCartney 3)AhYou /// 17)Lough 16)Heff 18)Bealham

The big question for next week with Marmion likely to come back in is who's going to start at out half and who is going to take the kicks at goal. Every chance will need to be taken next week and really I don't feel confident about any of the likely options.