clanman wrote:
Connachta, do you really rate the combination of Heaslip(probably rested)Ryan, Murphy and Conan higher than Muldoon,Faloon,McKeon and Naopu? that surprises me

Yeah, with Ruddock and SOB, those 6 are clearly what have made, and will make, Leinster a good european club in my opinion. At the breakdown I think we're badly missing Heenan...Muldowney/Roux is a decent 2nd row but can't compensate in terms of mobility.

Mick Kearney only out for 3 to 4 weeks, that's a huge relief, other than that we look in good shape for this weekend.

Also big positive from the Bayonne game is the emergence of Blade as a worthy backup to Marmion.

Connachta, do you really rate the combination of Heaslip(probably rested)Ryan, Murphy and Conan higher than Muldoon,Faloon,McKeon and Naopu? that surprises me

Why is it only Monday?

Really looking forward to this game. Has potential to be a nerve wrecking cracker.

Following Saturday’s 29-27 win away to Bayonne in round 4 of the European Challenge Cup, the Connacht team returned to Galway on Sunday night and joined the squad for training this morning as attention turns to the GUINNESS PRO12 and the game away to defending champions Leinster on Friday night.

In terms of casualties arising from the game in France, wing Fionn Carr was removed from the field just four minutes in after taking a knock to the head. The 28-year-old received 8 stitches and is required to go through the standard return-to-play protocols for concussion this week.

The medical team has also confirmed that lock Mick Kearney sustained a high ankle sprain in the round 3 clash with Bayonne at the Sportsground. The 23-year-old is looking at 3 – 4 weeks on the side lines.

Meanwhile, Galway man Andrew Browne is also unavailable for this week’s derby as he continues to nurse a knee injury.

But there is positive news as well with scrum half Ian Porter and prop JP Cooney both returning to full training and making themselves available to Head Coach Pat Lam ahead of the busy period of inter-pro fixtures.

The medical team also reported thatJason Harris-Wright underwent successful ACL repair surgery at the weekend. The 26-year-old hooker will now face up to six months of rehab.The Connacht team to face Leinster will be named at noon on Thursday.

Leinster v Connacht
Friday December 19th
RDS
Kick off 19:35

clanman wrote:
The areas that we would normally have feared playing Leinster are no longer a factor, the Backrow and Centres. .

Agree for Centre, not really for backrow.. On the contrary I think it would be the only area where we'll be in difficulty... When you see Conan D.Ryan, Murphy are the 2nd choices of Leinster that's very frightening, without Heenan to help....

Fitzgerald/Henshaw is the head-to-head to watch closely... In the middle term, they might switch between their respective teams, who knows....

we certainly have nothing to fear going up there, but and it's a big but we have'nt won away to one of the other provinces in a long time, I think it's near 40 games. The mindset will be different this time due to the way we have been playing and winning, as John Muldoon said on his twitter after the match against Bayonne "Winning Is Infectious".

The areas that we would normally have feared playing Leinster are no longer a factor, the Backrow and Centres. How the tables have turned in fact we can now realistically dominate them in those 2 areas. I can't imagine that they will play their full strength team again especially with the Munster match coming up for them the following week.

Look at that team!

I have a good feeling about this Friday. Not confident of a win, but should be a cracker of a match. We're coming into Leinsters home turf, and after their run of games you'd have to imagine that they're going to be gunning for this one.

Cant believe that I'm missing this game :sick:

Leinster fans in work are not looking forward to this game one bit

Leinster at the RDS are a formidable obstacle despite their recent performances. They are likely to go with a somewhat weakened team here. A win would be a massive statement but would require close on a complete 80 performance which for all the progress we have made and all the wins we've accumulated we haven't really delivered. If we are disciplined I'd hope we could be in the hunt heading into the final 10/15 minutes and hopefully we could pick up at least 1 point.

swift4prez wrote: What's this? Half time mascot charity race?

Indeed.. talking to you, Swift4prez, I wonder if you heard the French Commentary yesterday.. He said BEN swift all along the match :lol: :lol: :lol:

Yup
He played against them in Sportsground
Cooney can't though so Blade will have spot on bench

Can we play Roux against Leinster?

What's this? Half time mascot charity race?

After the squad training earlier this week, not much suspense remains for the team annoucement : Roux seems fit, and we will have the Aki/Henshaw pairing we all want to see :woohoo: The only piece of interest is whether Faloon, with the work done at the Breakdown, will be ahead of McKeon (waiting for Heenan)

15. Mils Muliaina
14. Danie Poolman
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Aly Muldowney
5. Quinn Roux
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Eoin McKeon/Willie Faloon
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Michael Swift
20. Willie Faloon/McKeon
21. Caolin Blade
22. Craig Ronaldson
23. Darragh Leader/Dave McSharry


Wow for ***' sake, that's probably the most good-looking team in Connacht history :woohoo: :woohoo: