columoc wrote: he is experienced and on the International panel.

Fair enough but so is George Clancy so that's not as good a selling point as you'd think!

I'd agree with columoc in what he says but we've got to learn to play the particular ref and with that in mind I hope we have learned from the Ospreys debacle at the breakdown.

Its not exactly helpful for the league but we've seen the shoe on the other foot plenty of times as well. Think for the league as a whole its time any suspicion of favouritism was ruled out, it just gives everyone a stick to beat the league with.

Anyway I better stop before shelflife reads the riot act.

I've not seen Hodges be biased but has he reffed us when we've played a Welsh team before?

I hope Lam raises it though before the match (in a non-whingey manner if possible). Need to let Hodges know that the eyes of the Clan Stand are upon him.

I found so many critism about him..+ strict in the rucks + welsh... I feel it badly, but the crowd should do the job!

I think Hodges doesn't let games flow as well as others, he blows up awful easy for not releasing.

However, I think he is fair; and he is experienced and on the International panel, I would not expect him be anything other than fair.
To be honest, I cannot say that I know of any refs who have been very biased; unlike TMOs and Citing Commissioners (WRU especially). I think that is the area that the Pro 12 needs to sort out first.

menacethedenis wrote: Welsh ref? oh dear....

Possibly the single biggest flaw left in pro12 and easily solved if they really want to ! Unfortunately they don't seem to and the tmos in particular, but not exclusively , seem to be becoming more partisan by the game.

he did...

Didnt he officiate the swimming contest in Biarritz a couple of years ago too? Terrible ref

the Welsh referee of Saracens last year in London.. Sometimes very contested.. Thoughts?

Welsh ref? oh dear....

Connacht have lost just one of their last four Guinness PRO12 fixtures: 11-26 to Ospreys in Swansea in round 7, whilst their 43-3 victory over Zebre on Friday was their second biggest win in the history of the PRO12.
The Irishmen are unbeaten at the Sportsground in any tournament this season.

Scarlets only defeat in their last six PRO12 matches was to Munster in Limerick in round 6, however the Welshmen have not won an away game in any tournament since a trip to Treviso in February.

Scarlets have won their last five encounters with Connacht since their 11-13 reversal at the Sportsground in September 2011.

At Sportsground, 7.30pm. Live on Sky Sports/TG4
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU,43rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Nigel Correll, Brian MacNeice (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU)
TMO: Seamus Flannery (IRFU)

Disappointed I will miss this game but can't be helped now. Will be an interesting game and another marker of where conn are for the season. The approach of the players and muldoons control over the teams nerves will tell us whether the lessons of Cardiff have registered or not

We're talking about it on the Squad Topic, and when knee torsion was done, not much more to worsen, and feel guilty about...

connachta wrote: Aki will need a proper rest too.. don't forget he's playing constantly since february...

Good point. On a related note, I watched the Zebre game again last night, and they showed footage of the dressing room afterwards - he had some of the heaviest strapping on his right shoulder I've ever seen. I didn't seem to inhibit him too much because I thought he looked seriously lively, but hopefully not a sign of an injury waiting to happen.

On an unrelated note, what were they thinking letting Harris Wright play on after getting injured. I'm not doctor, but it was obvious to me his knee was fecked. Running around for another 5 minutes can't have helped.

clanman wrote:

connachta wrote:

gaillimhabu wrote:

connachta wrote: Aki will need a proper rest too.. don't forget he's playing constantly since february... I'm in favour of bringing him in Bayonne (as Henshaw is unavailable) but to rest him at home next week.. Finn/O'Leary or even Leader can do the job at 12 with Henshaw

Would it not be McSharry at 12 if Aki is rested

I'd like to protect him a little bit, too. But as he won't play too much now, why not... But Finn/O'Leary not tested except in B&I cup is disappointed

I'd rest him for the away game, in fact in reality there's no need to rest him but maybe just to protect him, back in NZ he was only going through the motions in those ITM cup games. intensity a lot lower compared to the Chiefs games

watched as amy itm cup games as I could this season. no shortage of intensity there.

connachta wrote:

gaillimhabu wrote:

connachta wrote: Aki will need a proper rest too.. don't forget he's playing constantly since february... I'm in favour of bringing him in Bayonne (as Henshaw is unavailable) but to rest him at home next week.. Finn/O'Leary or even Leader can do the job at 12 with Henshaw

Would it not be McSharry at 12 if Aki is rested

I'd like to protect him a little bit, too. But as he won't play too much now, why not... But Finn/O'Leary not tested except in B&I cup is disappointed

I'd rest him for the away game, in fact in reality there's no need to rest him but maybe just to protect him, back in NZ he was only going through the motions in those ITM cup games. intensity a lot lower compared to the Chiefs games

gaillimhabu wrote:

connachta wrote: Aki will need a proper rest too.. don't forget he's playing constantly since february... I'm in favour of bringing him in Bayonne (as Henshaw is unavailable) but to rest him at home next week.. Finn/O'Leary or even Leader can do the job at 12 with Henshaw

Would it not be McSharry at 12 if Aki is rested

I'd like to protect him a little bit, too. But as he won't play too much now, why not... But Finn/O'Leary not tested except in B&I cup is disappointed