We've to improve from those games but Embra wasn't that bad. Fox Matamua saved us. Happy with the win. Treviso next, and then it's all bonus if we get smth more until January.

Good start to the day for us with Zebre beating Cardiff with a bonus point. Cardiff had the 4 away games in Ireland with 3 points and 4 very competitive performances which isn't a bad return so I'm sure they'd have targeted today to get up and running. For a team trying to rebuild after last year's poor form, that's now 4 bonus point defeats in a row.

Yep, just heard from moremiles it's not open.
I'll seek out a pub to watch it in.

According to their twitter, gates don't open until 5.15 so guessing they not showing it?

Invalid consumer key/secret in configuration

Diom wrote: As far as I know they are showing it in the "marquee".

Was this actually confirmed anywhere? Heard it from a few people but can't find it on the website or anything.

I'm surprised Edinburgh will not be using their Scottish internationals for this game, is this coming from the SRU? You'd think they'd really want to bounce back from the Zebre loss especially against a team that figures to be challenging them for 6th place come season's end. Perhaps Solomons feels this group of players got them to 4-1 and with Hidalgo-Clyne they are a good match for Connacht. Odd that Henshaw isn't lining out in light of Sexton being named for Leinster, though Johnny's RWC did end a week earlier unfortunately. Expecting a Connacht win here just hoping the defense improves to make it more convincing than the 4 to date.

As far as I know they are showing it in the "marquee".

Like the team. We need to be rotating some players each match while retaining experience, so maybe would have had Delahunt starting with McCartney on the bench. Not sure why he didnt at least get a bench spot. Maybe Lam is trying to work more experience through the squad by giving the odd 20 mins to more fringe players?

Glad Tom is back but thought Delahunt deserved stay in the 23 after his heroics last week

Really looking forward to this game - are they showing the RWC final in the grounds?

Players not considered due to injury
Michael Allen (shoulder), Grant Gilchrist (groin), Stuart McInally (neck), Matt Scott (back), Grant Shiells (back), Jade Te Rure (knee), Greig Tonks (groin), Ben Toolis (elbow)

Rugby World Cup players being rested
David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, John Hardie, WP Nel

Edinburgh Rugby team v Connacht, Saturday 31 October, Sportsground, kick-off 6.45pm

15 Blair Kinghorn

14 Damien Hoyland

13 Chris Dean

12 Sam Beard

11 Will Helu

10 Phil Burleigh

9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne

1 Rory Sutherland

2 Neil Cochrane

3 John Andress

4 Anton Bresler

5 Fraser McKenzie

6 Mike Coman (capt)

7 Roddy Grant

8 Nasi Manu

Substitutes

16 George Turner

17 Allan Dell

18 Simon Berghan

19 Alex Toolis

20 Cornell Du Preez

21 Sean Kennedy

22 Dougie Fife

23 Nick McLennan

Interesting that Leinster are starting (being permitted to start?) the likes of Luke Fitz, Dave Kearney, Johnny Sexton, and Jordi Murphy away to Treviso.

I know you could pick a team at random from their squad and it'd have to be full of Internationals, but Sexton in particular can't be right.

[edit] I suppose they've got to get ahead of us in the table before Robbie's move is announced

Head Coach Pat Lam has named his side to play Edinburgh at the Sportsground in round 6 of the Guinness PRO12 tomorrow (6:45pm). Following last week’s win over Ospreys, there are three changes to the side.

In the starting XV, the backline remains unchanged while Tom McCartney, Andrew Browne, and John Muldoon (captain), all return to the pack.

Returning international Nathan White is named on the bench for what could be his first PRO12 appearance since his Rugby World Cup campaign.

Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, head coach Pat Lam said:

“While we’re happy with where we’re at so far, we know it’s only going to get tougher, and this week the focus has been all about what we need to do next. We are under no illusions of the physical battle we face on Saturday and with that in mind, it’s great to be able to bring in the experience of guys like Tom (McCartney), John (Muldoon) and Andrew (Browne).

“Obviously Nathan (White) returning is a big boost for us and we’re pleased to have him involved this week. After a busy few games in the World Cup, Robbie (Henshaw) is not far off and we should see him next week against Treviso.

“We’re really looking forward to playing at home again tomorrow and protecting our home record is number one on the agenda.”

Connacht line-up v Edinburgh

15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Darragh Leader
13. Bundee Aki
12. Craig Ronaldson
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Aly Muldowney
5. Andrew Browne
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Nepia Fox-Matamua
8. Eoghan Masterson

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Finlay Bealham
18. Nathan White
19. Quinn Roux
20. Eoin McKeon
21. Ian Porter
22. Rory Parata
23. Niyi Adeolokun

Unavailable / Injured: Ronan Loughney, Jason Harris-Wright, JP Cooney, Ben Marshall, Jake Heenan, John Cooney, Api Pewhairangi, Dave McSharry, Shane O’Leary, Robbie Henshaw, Conor Finn, Fionn Carr, Danie Poolman.

Glad that Tiernan's okay.

Bit disappointed that Henshaw can't be spared. I suppose if he starts against Treviso, it might get a few extra through the gate, which is important as well.

not sure either of them will play this week, maybe White on the bench to get 15 mins.

I'm more worried about the Treviso game than the Edinburgh game. Edinburgh will be down a good few players apparently and we should
know what to expect from them this time. As long as we're switched on from the start I can see us winning this with a bit to spare

who knows the following week which version of Treviso will turn-up and that's why it worries me. fortunately they have a shorter turn-around time between this weekend and ours

RogueXV wrote: Unless Henshaw and White are carrying over little injury niggles from the RWC I don't see why they wouldn't be named for this game.

Agreed. A win is vital here as Edinburgh will invariably be close to us at the business end of the season. Would love to see Henshaw at 12 and Bundee at 13.

Unless Henshaw and White are carrying over little injury niggles from the RWC I don't see why they wouldn't be named for this game. The only hold up would come from the IRFU and that doesn't seem to be the case. Connacht need to make the most of the next two games. 5 points from either would be presumptuous but would certainly come in handy with the points becoming decidedly harder to come by from the Munster game on as mentioned by Evil_g. A stronger defensive effort will be needed by the lads to build on this good start to the season.

Saw that article too- same one says that both Robbie and Nathan are back

Need to make hay while the sun is shining :woohoo:

Solomons "At the moment we have something like 14 players out – counting injuries and the World Cup players who need an extra week.”

Time to 1) win, 2) get the BP

Don't forget it wil be much tougher starting December, we need to fully capitalize now..