Injury update - Ronaldson & O'Brien the new injuries from Leinster, Maloney concussed in AIL.

www.connachtrugby.ie/squad-update-ahead-...game-6/#ConnachtNews

Unavailable (13/45):
Finlay Bealham (international)
Ultan Dillane (international)
Kieran Marmion (international)
Ronan Loughney two weeks
Matt Healy November/December
Josh Rowland November/December
Tom McCartney November
Nepia Fox-Matamua November
Eoghan Masterson December
Darragh Leader February
John Cooney unknown
Ivan Soroka unknown
Ben Marshall unknown

Possibly/probably unavailable (5/45):
Naulia Dawai after Mitre-10 Cup completion, should arrive this week but unlikely to play
Sean O'Brien monitored
Denis Buckley (early) November - no update
Rory Maloney protocols
Craig Ronaldson protocols

Twitter update from Dave Finn says all six academy props are injured. So with Bealham in the U.S. and both Loughs and Soroka injured, we need Bucks passed fit to be able to name 4 props in the matchday 23 vs. Dragons.

dobby wrote: Mitre 10 final on sky sports 3 from 9.30 tonight

it ended up starting at 10.30 tonight. its the first game I have ever watched in this competition. i thought connacht rugby a bit mental before i watched this stuff. simply everything is on with these guys. not sure i agree with the idea but it is entertaining if just maybe a bit way mental. i'm sure there must be a middle ground. shock, horror connacht would be described as the middle ground in this competition

Mitre 10 final on sky sports 3 from 9.30 tonight

He should be arriving next week sometime. New blood in the squad will create competition.

Not to worry podge he looks a cracking player anyway. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this guy goes.

Although I was quite critical of our back room team re poor recruitment this summer our squad is actually looking in great shape now. Hopefully it is not to late to have too negative an impact on our season but at least we are well set for the next few years now.

that of course was last week! oops!

Look who scored for Otago today!

www.ultimaterugby.com/match/otago-vs-bay...-21st-oct-2016/32173

connachta wrote:

All actions of Dawai (minutes of the game, not the video)

5 : 05 good rucking
11 : 55 correct tackle
15 : 05 missed tackle
18 : 03 again !
20 : 42 try
23 : 35 magnificent catch-and-pass
26 : 43 act as Scrum-half
33 : 02 tackle
34 : 42 missed tackle
38 :05 good tackle
39 ; 50 tackle
2nd half
40 : 05 tackle
41 : 00 controling the ball behind the maul for 40 sec
44 : 44 choke tackle
51 : 40 can’t control the ball
53 : 23 same
62 : 25 ball carrying

Sub off

Just in case some have doubts I really did
but I quote ESPN too, sometimes it's partly relevant (for Tackles and turnovers conceeded mainly)

dobby wrote: have to admit. Gobsmacked. connachta could not laid out better stats. i simply watched the game and there wasnt a sign of Payne. but stats would say different . If Tom Mccartney signs its the best day ever

Ha, well I cheated and just used ESPN stats - unlike Connachta who goes to the trouble of watching entire games and takes notes

wp_rathead wrote:

dobby wrote: Out of interest did Payne even lay his mits on the ball last weekend? Just to be subjective.

32 times Dobby - 5 kicks - 11 passes - 16 runs
72 meters made- 2 defenders beaten and 1 offload.
You'd assume he is starting 15 but there are doubts over Olding and Marshall for NZ in Chicago. If they both out you'd assume Payne would be 13 and 1 of TOH, Zebo or Rob Kearney in at FB. Despite what media saying, I can not see Ringrose involved against NZ

have to admit. Gobsmacked. connachta could not laid out better stats. i simply watched the game and there wasnt a sign of Payne. but stats would say different . If Tom Mccartney signs its the best day ever

dobby wrote: Out of interest did Payne even lay his mits on the ball last weekend? Just to be subjective.

32 times Dobby - 5 kicks - 11 passes - 16 runs
72 meters made- 2 defenders beaten and 1 offload.
You'd assume he is starting 15 but there are doubts over Olding and Marshall for NZ in Chicago. If they both out you'd assume Payne would be 13 and 1 of TOH, Zebo or Rob Kearney in at FB. Despite what media saying, I can not see Ringrose involved against NZ

clanman wrote:

Sol_ie wrote: You'd have to hope that Tiernan will get a shout. He's definitively outperforming Rob K, and for my money is the best 15 playing in Ireland. That said, we'll wait and see.

I think Niyi deserves it, but something tells me he might not make the bench. Could see him getting serious game time for the Canada match, mind you. Would love to be proven wrong.

I think Connacht style would suit playing against the AB better. Of course, you just can't step into that straight away (look at Pats first year here) so I'd imagine we'll stick to the usual irish game plan revolving around Sexton and Murray. Hey, Schmidt knows his job - can't argue with his record.

Payne has been starting most of Ulster games this season at 15 and even though Ulster have lost a few games recently his performances have been a class apart, how far ahead he is of Tiernan is a subjective point of view. Would be really surprised if Joe plays Payne in the center for any of the upcoming Ireland games

Out of interest did Payne even lay his mits on the ball last weekend? Just to be subjective.

Sol_ie wrote: You'd have to hope that Tiernan will get a shout. He's definitively outperforming Rob K, and for my money is the best 15 playing in Ireland. That said, we'll wait and see.

I think Niyi deserves it, but something tells me he might not make the bench. Could see him getting serious game time for the Canada match, mind you. Would love to be proven wrong.

I think Connacht style would suit playing against the AB better. Of course, you just can't step into that straight away (look at Pats first year here) so I'd imagine we'll stick to the usual irish game plan revolving around Sexton and Murray. Hey, Schmidt knows his job - can't argue with his record.

Payne has been starting most of Ulster games this season at 15 and even though Ulster have lost a few games recently his performances have been a class apart, how far ahead he is of Tiernan is a subjective point of view. Would be really surprised if Joe plays Payne in the center for any of the upcoming Ireland games

EvoGeo wrote:

dobby wrote:

Conn Not 65 wrote: After reading Pinky v Devils own with a healthy sprinkling of dobby (no offence! ) I nearly forgot that we had just pulled off the coup of the season. !! People today is a good day ....

What might be better, I think, is if Jake, Niyi and Tiernan make the plane to Chicago. With SOB just on the way back and Jake in the form of his life (and now qualified?), with Earls potentially unavailable and Trimble being not exactly inspirational last weekend, and RK on a downward spiral, will Joe really ignore Niyi and Tiernan. I would not be a happy bunny, Bundee and Ultan news aside. It would make you wonder what they need to do to?

Sorry Dobby, in no way could that be better. Today's news could set the team up for the next 20 years. It is putting roots down on what has been achieved since pat has taken over

True. If there ever was a statement made, it was made today

You'd have to hope that Tiernan will get a shout. He's definitively outperforming Rob K, and for my money is the best 15 playing in Ireland. That said, we'll wait and see.

I think Niyi deserves it, but something tells me he might not make the bench. Could see him getting serious game time for the Canada match, mind you. Would love to be proven wrong.

I think Connacht style would suit playing against the AB better. Of course, you just can't step into that straight away (look at Pats first year here) so I'd imagine we'll stick to the usual irish game plan revolving around Sexton and Murray. Hey, Schmidt knows his job - can't argue with his record.

dobby wrote:

Conn Not 65 wrote: After reading Pinky v Devils own with a healthy sprinkling of dobby (no offence! ) I nearly forgot that we had just pulled off the coup of the season. !! People today is a good day ....

What might be better, I think, is if Jake, Niyi and Tiernan make the plane to Chicago. With SOB just on the way back and Jake in the form of his life (and now qualified?), with Earls potentially unavailable and Trimble being not exactly inspirational last weekend, and RK on a downward spiral, will Joe really ignore Niyi and Tiernan. I would not be a happy bunny, Bundee and Ultan news aside. It would make you wonder what they need to do to?

Sorry Dobby, in no way could that be better. Today's news could set the team up for the next 20 years. It is putting roots down on what has been achieved since pat has taken over