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

salmson wrote:

rossie wrote: Saw that too. Is it great?
Win away to bayonne and connacht have a good chance of a home Qtr if they beat Exeter at home. A challenge cup final is achievable and would be massive pr for the province. Thousands of connacht fans making their way to London in may.

Even if we won the Challenge Cup that would be of less use than being in the Heineken(ish) Cup when negotiating with Henshaw, Marmion in 12 months time. Eaten bread is soon forgotten. So while it galls me to say it, the Challenge Cup is a bit of a distraction.

Connacht rugby is not all about two players. They will make their decisions when the time comes and they will either stay or go. Connacht in Heineken isn't going to make a difference if choice is leinster/munster and potentially winning it. However winning challenge cup and finishing 6th are achievable goals for connacht imo and winning a trophy will do wonders for the profile of connacht. Profile wise playing in Heineken is probably maxed out after last few years but a European final and potentially winning one well that's what dreams are made of. Heineken cup final of 2000 made munster the brand it is not 06.

rossie wrote: Saw that too. Is it great?
Win away to bayonne and connacht have a good chance of a home Qtr if they beat Exeter at home. A challenge cup final is achievable and would be massive pr for the province. Thousands of connacht fans making their way to London in may.

Even if we won the Challenge Cup that would be of less use than being in the Heineken(ish) Cup when negotiating with Henshaw, Marmion in 12 months time. Eaten bread is soon forgotten. So while it galls me to say it, the Challenge Cup is a bit of a distraction.

rossie wrote: Saw that too. Is it great?
Win away to bayonne and connacht have a good chance of a home Qtr if they beat Exeter at home. A challenge cup final is achievable and would be massive pr for the province. Thousands of connacht fans making their way to London in may.

I agree 100%. This weekend is definitely more important than the Challenge Cup but even if we win this weekend we can't have all our eggs in one basket. We need to do the double against Bayonne (and probably need 9 points) if we are hoping to win the group. I think we can get the 5 at home as like La Rochelle they are unlikely to be too pushed but at home they will be a different kettle of fish as Exeter found out in the first game so we can't be going with a half arsed team over there expecting to get a result. I hope Lam has learned from the Exeter and Ospreys game as really we put two half and half teams after needlessly putting out a strong side against La Rochelle and it worked out badly as you'd expect really. Target Bayonne away as a win and we are in a good position in the group heading into the Christmas and New Year's schedule.

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

just to add the Leinster game is in our favor big time coming the week after Leinster will have played 2 tough european cup games against Quins, I think they are both equal on points so that means neither team can take the games easy.

So in my head this is a make or break game. Bring it!

I've been thinking about what our plan should be for the next 6 games Pro12 and Challenge Cup, so we go full-strength this weekend then rest a few for the home game against Bayonne, then away again go with resting a few players maybe more than a few depending where Bayonne are in the table. then we got Leinster away which is more important in my opinion than the Bayonne games and we have to be full-strength for that one. Ulster away is always a tough one for us and i'd be tempted to send up a weakened team and take our beating. that leaves the key players rested and ready for the final game of the 6 against Munster at home which is a must win.

totally agree with what IMF just said. we got to get that 6th place, with tougher games next year than some of the other teams that will surely make a run for 6th place

rossie wrote: Saw that too. Is it great?
Win away to bayonne and connacht have a good chance of a home Qtr if they beat Exeter at home. A challenge cup final is achievable and would be massive pr for the province. Thousands of connacht fans making their way to London in may.

The way I see it, what's gives us the best chance to keep Henshaw and Marmion in Connacht? a decent cup run in a weak competition this year or playing in the highest tier of European rugby next season?

And I don't mean at the expense of 6th. I think both are achievable. I just think that of the next 3 games the back to backs have to be priority esp with Exeter losing away to bayonne.

Saw that too. Is it great?
Win away to bayonne and connacht have a good chance of a home Qtr if they beat Exeter at home. A challenge cup final is achievable and would be massive pr for the province. Thousands of connacht fans making their way to London in may.

Fair enough I suppose but don't really see why Rodney has to miss any game. He played less than a half of rugby in the month of November.

I'd have been happier to see the lads rested for Bayonne at home and have our best team going there as a win away to Bayonne would put us in control of our own destiny.

Anyway Scarlets is the biggest game of the three so good to have a full hand to choose from bar existing injuries.

Found this posted about 50mins ago:

linley mackenzie ‏@linleymackenzie
"Henshaw, Ah You and Marmion free to play for Connacht Saturday - IRFU flexibility praised by Lam. Henshaw and Ah You to miss Bayonne away."

Great news. Looking forward to seeing who gets selected at 12/13. Thought Aki has looked a little off the pace in his last two games.

warning elements to work on (start 1:35, before it's about last season Glasgow system)

McCartney or Loughney could provide cover at loose head late on, wouldn't be exactly ideal but don't see it as a major issue. Buckley will be there for the guts of the 80 minutes. I do see your point though and that may tilt things towards Rodney alright but as I said for me its not a big deal. Getting it right at 2 and 10 is likely to be the winning and losing of this game imo.

Borders no.2 wrote:
McCartney worked hard when he came on but his darts didn't exactly inspire me but think with this experience he's probably the right call for this one. I just hope they can get some sort of understanding together in the line out during the week.

At Tight Head, Ronan Loughney did well admittedly against a poor opponent, I'd be tempted to leave him there and have Rodney's ball carrying to come on late on but happy enough with either on that one.

.

But as I tried to explain, the problem with McCartney hooker Loughney TH is obvious :
Who will provide cover for Buckley at LH... ??? you maybe want to move Bealham again, but McFarland said the young man undergone a specific training to play TH now...