Had the winning of this game even though the scrum was going backwards.

For me the two worst Connacht players on the pitch were Rodney and Mils. It was no surprise at all to see Bealham come on straight after halftime and I think Mils would have been called ashore earlier if McSharry hadn't got concussed. I'd like him to stay on in some sort of coaching capacity next season but Leader is well ahead of him on the pitch, he still has the rugby brain, but no longer the ability to execute.

Borders no.2 wrote:
Exeter look a decent bet to win this out but the question I'd be asking after today is whether its worthwhile keeping Mils on or is it better to invest in a couple of decent ball carriers in the pack along with a 10 (Carty did quite well on his late call up to be fair).

Agree, Mils wasn't bad today, but we need another 2nd row ball carrier, Aly and Roux can't play all the time. + a n°10, with Nikora and Muliana wedge. For FB, Leader is well ok, and both Gaffney and TOH (if he comes back) are backups

Borders no.2 wrote: Edinburgh have to play Bordeaux on Friday, inconveniently London Welsh v Lyon is on Sunday so the only way we can guarantee our progression is with 5 points on Saturday. 4 points may be enough but I wouldn't want to be relying on London Welsh for a favour. I'm not overly enthused about a game away to Gloucester to be honest but would be hugely disappointing to finish this period of games with 1 win in 6. However, I do think we need to mix things up a bit particularly in the pack.the sooner Nathan White is back the better.

E-XAC-TLY! :lol:

Edinburgh have to play Bordeaux on Friday, inconveniently London Welsh v Lyon is on Sunday so the only way we can guarantee our progression is with 5 points on Saturday. 4 points may be enough but I wouldn't want to be relying on London Welsh for a favour. I'm not overly enthused about a game away to Gloucester to be honest but would be hugely disappointing to finish this period of games with 1 win in 6. However, I do think we need to mix things up a bit particularly in the pack.

Really today we were well beaten up front. Exeter have a big pack and serious ball carriers but unfortunately we helped them on their way. We scored 4 good tries and the first half had a lot of positives. However, they were in charge at scrum time, even if it didn't look like they weren't driving straight on occasion.

Try after half time was a killer blow, there may have been a case for off side but the pass was never on and it wasn't the only time it happened in the 2nd half. We never really recovered and unfortunately the 2nd half was played on Exeter's terms. When we played with a bit of tempo and got the ball through the hands we were able to cut them open relatively easily but we looked flat after that try and struggled to get any momentum after that.

Scoring 4 tries against a good side is a positive but Exeter are a side who tend to concede a fair few anyway.

Exeter look a decent bet to win this out but the question I'd be asking after today is whether its worthwhile keeping Mils on or is it better to invest in a couple of decent ball carriers in the pack along with a 10 (Carty did quite well on his late call up to be fair). Rodney has stunk the place out in the last few weeks. Bealham actually steadied things when he came on but the sooner Nathan White is back the better.

Wait a minute, I've miscalculated. We can't bring Newcastle back, but there's 3 best runner-ups qualified. A simple BP win should qualify us whatever the other results are

TBH the ref has had a part in the edinburgh defeat, but not there... we're very lucky to have escaped from the yellow card.

Henshaw is clearly the next BOD
Healy for Wolfhounds
White for Ah You

So there's the assessment we're + 15 for aggregate difference over Newcasle. If we can keep this margin, we're through ; (Newcastle away to Romania, Connacht away to weakened La Rochelle)

www.drakulastream.eu/rugby-live-streaming-video.html

Ronaldson out and Carty In. Nikora on bench. Ronaldson out with Calf injury.

Any good links for the game ????

The LOU just avenged us, win 21-19 against edinburgh. Now we have our home Quarter-fi, with certainty if we get 9 points in the last 2 games (sure away quarter with 8 )

Just on the bench a bit disappointing not to see Ronan Loughney there instead of Cooney given he played 40 mins midweek and isn't on the injured or unavailable list.

Good to see Exeter takin the comp more serious than the two French teams that have come over

Would have loved for Fets to have been named

Ronaldson and McSharry offer a cracking defence - both are hard as nails. Looking forward to the game

Wow smashing!both teams! is it challenge Cup or HCup?

Aside note : Vainikolo didn't make it in Exeter
2nd aside not : Ian Whitten said he loves to come back in Ireland, and knows a few guys in each province. Would be a very good newcomer to take the Carr spot next year (and Henshaw's one when he's with Ireland)...

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE CONNACHT

15 Phil Dollman
14 Ian Whitten
13 Jack Nowell
12 Sam Hill
11 Matt Jess
10 Henry Slade
9 Dave Lewis
1 Ben Moon
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
3 Alex Brown
4 Dean Mumm (capt)
5 Damian Welch
6 Dave Ewers
7 Don Armand
8 Thomas Waldrom

16 Greg Bateman
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Carl Rimmer
19 Kai Horstmann
20 James Scaysbrook
21 Haydn Thomas
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Byron McGuigan

Chiefs team named also: www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/30048.php

Connacht team to face Exeter Chiefs
16th January 2015

The Connacht team to face Exeter Chiefs in round 5 of the European Challenge Cup has been named. Head Coach Pat Lam has made four personnel changes from the starting XV that faced Edinburgh last weekend.

Craig Ronaldson has been handed the reigns at outhalf in a half back pairing with 22-year-old Ireland international Kieran Marmion who marks his 70th appearance for Connacht.

Dave McSharry, whose new two-year deal with the province was confirmed today, starts in the centre with Robbie Henshaw while Matt Healy returns to the left wing to shift Danie Poolman to the right.

The only change to the pack sees Number 8 George Naoupu promoted from the bench to start in a back row with Willie Faloon and captain John Muldoon.

Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, Head Coach Pat Lam said:

“With a new challenge this week, we’ve changed up our back line slightly for the visit of Exeter Chiefs. Craig (Ronaldson) did very well for us against Munster and, after coming back from injury, he gets a chance again on Sunday. With Bundee (Aki) unfortunately out injured for the next while, it’s great to be able to call on the experience of Dave (McSharry). And with the different conditions expected this week, Matt Healy returns.

“This is a massively important game for us. While we have stated that our main priority is the PRO12, another of our big team goals is to progress in Europe to the knock out stages. This game on Sunday against a quality Premiership side in Exeter is vital in determining who tops this group.

“The weather is looking dry for our Sunday afternoon kick off so that will make for a change for us and also our fantastic supporters who have braved the tough conditions the last two weeks. We’re all looking forward to another packed Sportsground.”

Connacht team to face Exeter

15. Mils Muliaina
14. Danie Poolman
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Dave McSharry
11. Matt Healy
10. Craig Ronaldson
9. Kieran Marmion

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

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. JP Cooney
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Andrew Browne
20. Eoin McKeon
21. Caolin Blade
22. Jack Carty
23. Darragh Leader

Unavailable/Injured: Jason Harris-Wright, Sean Henry, Ultan Dillane, Mick Kearney, Jake Heenan, John Cooney, Ian Porter, Bundee Aki, Tiernan O’Halloran,.

Connacht v Exeter Chiefs – Galway Sportsgrounds European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 2 Round 5
Sunday 18th January 2015 Kick Off 15:15

After a home defeat to Edinburgh ended Connacht's unbeaten home run, they will attempt to get back on track against Exeter in a crucial Challenge Cup game. Neither side have enjoyed a particularly productive run since their last Challenge Cup outing in mid December. Both sides will hope to put their recent indifferent league form behind them to take a giant stride towards qualification for the quarter final of the competition.

Other Match Stats
Exeter have lost their last 4 Premiership games
Exeter have picked up 7 bonus points in the league just one less than the sides with the most Northampton and Wasps
Exeter have picked up 4 bonus points in the Challenge Cup (1 losing bonus point and 3 4 try bonus points)
Exeter's last visit to Ireland saw them beat Ulster 22-21 in a pre-season friendly.

Exeter Chiefs Stats
Website: exeterchiefs.co.uk/
Founded: 1871
Ground: Sandy Park
Capacity: 12,500
Coaches: Rob Baxter
Captain: Dean Mumm

Premiership League Position 2013/14: 8th P:22 Points:45
Premiership League Position 2014/15: 5th P:13 Points:35
LV Cup 2013/14: Winners: Top of Pool 2 P:4 Pts:14 (Beat Northampton 15-8 in the final)
LV Cup 2014/15: 1st in Pool 4 P:2 Pts: 8
Heineken Cup 2013/14: 3rd in Pool 2 P:6 Points:12

Previous Fixtures
London Irish 28-26 Exeter Chiefs (Premiership Round 13)
Exeter Chiefs 25-26 Gloucester (Premiership Round 12)
Bath 31-14 Exeter Chiefs (Premiership Round 11)
Sale Sharks 18-11 Exeter Chiefs (Premiership Round 10)

Next Fixture:
Saturday 24th January 2015 Exeter v Bayonne Kick Off: 17:30 @ Sandy Park (Challenge Cup Round 6)

European Rugby Challenge Cup (Pool 2)
Exeter 16
Connacht 14
Bayonne 5
La Rochelle 4

Exeter Chiefs Ins and Outs 2014/15
Players In
Thomas Waldrom from Leicester Tigers
Moray Low from Glasgow Warriors
Tomas Francis from London Scottish
Mitch Lees from London Welsh
Elvis Taione from Jersey
Ryan Caldwell from Bath Rugby
Adam Hughes from Bristol Rugby
Chrysander Botha from Lions
Patrick Phibbs from London Irish

Players Out
Hoani Tui to Lyon
Craig Mitchell to Cardiff Blues
Romana Graham to La Rochelle
Jason Shoemark to Hawke's Bay Magpies
Chris Whitehead retired
Tom Cowan-Dickie to Plymouth Albion
James Hanks retired
Lloyd Fairbrother to Newport Gwent Dragons
Luke Arscott to Bath Rugby
James Phillips to London Scottish

Previous Meetings

European Challenge Cup Pool 2 Round 2 October 25th 2014
Exeter Chiefs 33-13 Connacht
www.epcrugby.com/matchcentre/29392.php

Pre-Season Friendly August 2012
Exeter Chiefs 6-8 Connacht

Pre Season Friendly August 2011
Connacht 10-47 Exeter Chiefs