ConnachtCows wrote: Wouldnt mind an away 1/4 final anyway.

We can worry about all the permutations after the Edinburgh game. That's the most important game at the moment

I would, Challenge Cup quarter is home or nothing for me..
But yes, Edinburgh first

If we beat Exeter at home, we will be at least, 1 point clear of them.
If we win our last two games, and we still dont top our group, we'll get a best runners up spot.
Wouldnt mind an away 1/4 final anyway.

We can worry about all the permutations after the Edinburgh game. That's the most important game at the moment

Yeah but the only problem is that the semi-Eagles team in la Rochelle will have to take the TBP, if Exeter manage to get the LBP next week..

Edinburgh is a much bigger game, but I have the Amlin 1/4 weekend already circled in my calendar.
I would absolutely love getting to the knock out stages.
If we beat Edinburgh this weekend, I think we can afford to put out a very strong team at home to Exeter (which is what we've been doing for all home Amlin matches). If we beat Exeter, we have an easy enough game in La Rochelle to finish out the group, before a 3 week gap to the Scarlets game. Players can get rests during that break

rossie wrote: The extra tv money is allocated centrally to irfu. The gate money stays at province afaik.
My point was that both the Edinburgh and Exeter games are equally important. Win both and season is set up for a great finish. Lose them and all feelgood momentum gained counts for nothing.

They're both important but if someone was to say we will win one and lose one of those 2 I'd prefer if it was the Exeter game we lost

clanman wrote: with the weather forecast for friday evening supposed to be very similar to last week you'd have to think it will be the same team and tactics, the only changes I would make Muldoon needs a rest and McSharry deserves to start. I see the Main stand and Clan are sold out, rugby out west has certainly gone to a new level

4,038 attended this fixture on February 15th, the increase should be healthy and looking at the tea leaves, I'd expect the official attendance to be 5,800-5,900 or so.

Just shows what form has done to the gate receipts.

The extra tv money is allocated centrally to irfu. The gate money stays at province afaik.
My point was that both the Edinburgh and Exeter games are equally important. Win both and season is set up for a great finish. Lose them and all feelgood momentum gained counts for nothing.

rossie wrote: 250k + for a home quarter final is nothing to be sneezed at even if you don't value the competition. It will go a long way towards balancing the books and keeping the players you value for next season.

The money goes into the IRFU Pot so who knows how much we would benefit, Pro12 has to be priority and qualification for next years Champions cup, anyway after the Exeter game the guys can take a rest

rossie wrote: Outlaw, have u ever seen connacht win anything?
Beat Exeter and you win the group and most likely a home quarter final. It's vital for the brand. Add in that you play scarlets in middle of 6 n's and it's got to be treated with respect. After all what's the point in celebrating like it's 1999 after beating munster if you can't beat Edinburgh at home the following week.

You think Robbie Henshaw is goiing to hang around to play in the Challenge Cup?

Let's get real here. Its not vital to anything- qualifying for the Champions Cup is the only ticket in town. To qualify tor that off our own bat with no help from any Irish province- completely off our own steam would surpass anything achieved by Connacht rugby in its history.

We need to shoot for the stars in my opinion and stop aiming to be top dog in a mickey mouse competition.

250k + for a home quarter final is nothing to be sneezed at even if you don't value the competition. It will go a long way towards balancing the books and keeping the players you value for next season.

I'm not one for writing off the Challenge Cup as others would but 4 points here is far more important than how the Challenge Cup results go in the next two weeks and all that should come into our thinking this week is what is the best 23 to win this game. A win here would really give us a big advantage over Edinburgh themselves and Cardiff, Dragons etc. and possibly a 7 or 8 point advantage over Scarlets heading into the game there in February which would heap all the pressure on them for that game.

A defeat brings Edinburgh right up behind us and puts Scarlets firmly in pole position for 6th. Scarlets at home for me was previously our biggest home game of the season, now its this one. Wins over Munster and Leinster were superb and memorable nights but these are the kind of nights that will make or break our season.

I have seen a good bit of Edinburgh this season and I think its one we should win once we are at the right intensity and make sensible decisions. They did well up front against Glasgow last Friday but I still think its an area we can get an advantage over them and build from there. I'm always nervy of games that are likely to be tight like this though, especially coming off the Munster game. This game for me will tell a lot more about how far we've come this season.

with the weather forecast for friday evening supposed to be very similar to last week you'd have to think it will be the same team and tactics, the only changes I would make Muldoon needs a rest and McSharry deserves to start. I see the Main stand and Clan are sold out, rugby out west has certainly gone to a new level

For any UK based Connacht fans, that can't get TG4 but can get SKY or Virgin TV, then the full game is scheduled to be shown on BBC ALBA at 9:30pm straight after their live showing of Glasgow v Scarlets match.

Wouldn't mind seeing Healy thrown in the mix on a wing. Otherwise Connachta's team works well for me. Muldoon has earned a full rest, having him recharged for Exeter will be good. They've put themselves in a good position in the challenge cup so there is no sense in not fielding a strong side against Exeter at home. Pat has put his faith in the full squad so if players are to be rested it will happen against La Rochelle. With two weekends off before the Scarlets game they should be looking to finish top of their pool in the challenge cup.

connachta wrote:

sea_point wrote:
I know you've got a thing for Masterson.. But Mul has to be in the 23, so I'd have him on the bench and George starting at 8 with McKeon at 6. Mul can be rested properly for Challenge Cup.

Haven't thought about that combo, TBH. But still think Master deserve a go now (not eliegible in Europe), and in addition McKeon should be kept at 8, moving him all the time isn't good..

I agree... the lad had a mini-stormer against Munster and should be rewarded by letting him go again. However we absolutely need to take this game by the horns and I would start Mul at 6, and Faloon at 7 replicating the backrow from Munster. If we are changing things up I think we need to do it in the Challenge Cup.
Blade to start at scrum-half would be fine, and I would consider swapping McShaz in for Bundee. Given that Robbie will be gone during the 6ns Bundee and McSharry should be sharing time so they are both fresh and match ready for when Robbie is gone.
If Ronaldson is available I would play him.

Huge game. Really looking forward to it.
I know people are worried about us after putting in a massive performance against Munster, but the same can be said for Edinburgh against Glasgow.