Just watched it again, and Masterson did do a knock-on. Not obvious, but still more real on 2nd sight than VDF grounding!

CONN8 wrote: I don't know if I'm out of order here but I am going to ask the question does the TMO need to be at the game to be a judge of the game?, in theory some guy at the other side of the world could look at a screen and talk into a phone and give his verdict. Surely if we look at that theory we might eliminate the bias of home town TMOs.

In the US all the challenges in Major League Baseball are done at a central location in NY City. So unless there is a legitimate concern that the lines of communication are not 100% reliable then in theory it's possible.

I think he regretted not giving the Masterson try (which was first) and then wanted to give the Healy try to make up for it. None of us could believe it when he was said that he couldn't see anything wrong with it.

Paul Adams is a muffin. Has always been a muffin. He shows all the views but is never willing to give an opinion. And then you have Marius. In what rational sense could Marius think Healy touched the ball down when it was so blatantly knocked forward. Yet Marius insisted it was a try until paul Adams pointed out the blatantly obvious. And then Masterson got his downward pressure for his try and the ball popped up (natural when you get downward pressure) and still these morons couldn't figure it. If I never see these feckin idiots again it will be too soon

CONN8 wrote: I don't know if I'm out of order here but I am going to ask the question does the TMO need to be at the game to be a judge of the game?, in theory some guy at the other side of the world could look at a screen and talk into a phone and give his verdict. Surely if we look at that theory we might eliminate the bias of home town TMOs.

I can see a marketing opportunity here.
TMO sponsored by "3" :woohoo:

I don't know if I'm out of order here but I am going to ask the question does the TMO need to be at the game to be a judge of the game?, in theory some guy at the other side of the world could look at a screen and talk into a phone and give his verdict. Surely if we look at that theory we might eliminate the bias of home town TMOs.

Haven't brought myself to rewatch it but near the end of the game Muldoon was adamant that one of our players got tip tackled and pleading with ref to check upstairs

Sorry to drag this back up, but I've just watched the first half for the first time having missed it live and I need to vent. Christ we were robbed by the officials, and the TMO in particular. Maybe I've been watching too much "Making a Murderer", but I think they went beyond what you'd call "home town decisions". I had seen the disallowed tries discussed, but for me they should both have been awarded. Even the penalty to get the them on the scoreboard was from a dubious high tackle (scarlets player ducked into it), and it was the touch judge who intervened to award it. Maybe the IRFU boys will balance the books if giving the opportunity in the return fixture.

Like every game there some pluses and some minuses. Thought Tiernan played well but then he was sidestepped by a Scarlets player in the first half which put the backline under awful pressure. Indeed he was sidestepped by one of the Kearney brothers the previous week and that was close to a disaster. So most of his game is there but he won't be getting a call from Joe if he keeps missing tackles.

Niyi is a great man if you place a kick through for him to run onto. He has the pace to do great damage in such a case. However when the ball goes across the backline to him and the opposing winger has him covered he simply goes to ground. He didn't once look to see if there was a player on his shoulder during yesterdays game.

Bundee is simply great at crashing into the opposing centres but the problem is the ball that is getting to him. For his type of play you need a flat pass that he is coming onto. Instead the ball that craig or Jack supply him is leaving him having to pick up speed from a standing start. When Parata came on this improved as he did supply the flat pass that Bundee thrives on. Craig had a mixed bag. His kicking was excellent but in return he was largely responsible for both tries (first the blocked down kick and second the missed tackle by Tom and him to let Scarlets through the centre).

Matt played well throughout other than one up and under. As I said Jack really has to stop this quick offloading. He has to man up, hold the ball give the flat pass, and take the hit that comes with such a pass. This quick offloading is putting the backline on the backfoot and it makes it so hard to penetrate opposing lines. That said his kicking game was top notch on the day. Kiernan really needs a rest. His passing against Leinster was bad , against Scarlets it was worse. I like his sniping runs but it is not good enough that players are collecting balls at their bootlaces.

John Mull could do with a day off and put Connolly in with Heenan and Masterson (I know Heenan isn't available for challenge cup, I'm just saying we need to try Connolly in the PRO12 vs Scarlets at the end of Jan). I think you will find that if we do get the flat passing right Connolly and Masterson will be up with the play at the breakdown. Aly is another POC, though he should be given a good kick up the backside for losing possession of the ball in the ruck which eventually cost us the game. Ultan just wasn't at the races all day, we just didn't have anybody to replace him with Browne going off. Front row did what they were there for. Bealham has done well in Buckley's absence, Tom is a monster and Nathan is rock solid. I was disappointed with the overall performance of the scrum having said that. The Connacht scrum had 40kg on Scarlets but you would have never have known it..

So that's a big long post of negatives and everybody is saying well feic him.

And its true there are loads of positives. I loved the dummy play behind the scrum that even the ref couldn't work out (he eventually got in the way). Tiernan is imperious in the air and makes gain line yardage every single time. Matt runs like his pants is on fire. Bundee is a great crash-ball player, Craig's kicking is bang-on, Jack probably had his best game in a connacht shirt, Heenan is back to his very best, Masterson is really, really going to be some player, Bealham has been a great stand-in for Denis.

Borders no.2 wrote:
After the last 6 weeks or so we need a pick me up before the league resumes again which a win in France would supply. We are hoping to put 4 or 5 wins together in the upcoming league games but we need a bit of momentum back.
We can rotate heavily the following week against Enisei without too many difficulties I'd imagine and have a two week lead in to Scarlets. I know connachta will disagree strongly with this

I won't.
I still think I was right to call for rotation against Cardiff, as the added injuries cost us the win against Ulster by breaking Marmion, Ronaldson, Aki's momentums. They are just coming-back to 100% now, at least they were not for Ulster IMO. , and add to this 3 months for Roux, who would be much appreciated in the engine-room.

But now it's different, with many come backs and "forced rest" because of injuries, I can't see any compulsory rotation except Muldoon, Muldowney and Bealham who desperately need it.
I'd protect our key players though, Masterson Marmion and Aki shouldn't go, and Dillane on the bench as we're short for locks

which means a pretty decent team like

1) Loughney (redemption)
2) Heff
3) White
4) Qualter
5) Naoupu
6) SOB
7) Connolly
8 ) McKeon
9) Blade
10) Carty (to keep his good form)
11) Niyi
12) Robb
13) Parata
14) Poolman
15) TOH

16) JHW
17) O'Donnell
18) AhYou
19) Dillane
20) ???
21) Porter
22) McGinty
23) Ronaldson/Henshaw (if really and surely fit, to have a bit of gametime, might be wiser to wait for Enisei)

Heenan won't play either of the next two games as he's not registered for Europe. Henshaw McKeon Poolman and Buckley are all due back in the next week or two, so we can rest a few. Any idea when White is out of the woods citing wise?

We looked a tired side by the end yesterday. Brive is another big challenge next Saturday. I don't know what Brive are going to throw up. They looked like they were up for this competition with their battling performance against us. However, then they went and lost to Enesei. They are 6th in the Top 14 but had this weekend off and no league game again until the 30th. Mostly the French teams couldn't be bothered in this competition but at home they will as always be determined to maintain their home record.

For me I'd make a few changes to freshen things up. For example its important we manage Jake Heenan properly after his return. I'd like to give Marmion a rest which is why its a pity Cooney is injured. Jack Carty did well yesterday but maybe have a look at MacGinty.
It's a pity Robbie will probably miss this one as it'd be an ideal time to get him and Bundee at 12 and 13. A bit of experimentation in midfield would be no harm to see can we bring more of an attacking threat to the table for the important upcoming league games. Hopefully get a runout for Poolman here.

After the last 6 weeks or so we need a pick me up before the league resumes again which a win in France would supply. We are hoping to put 4 or 5 wins together in the upcoming league games but we need a bit of momentum back.
We can rotate heavily the following week against Enisei without too many difficulties I'd imagine and have a two week lead in to Scarlets. I know connachta will disagree strongly with this

The bloody TMO, and trying to play out the clock within your 22 with three and possibly more minutes to go...
Other than FFS, I really don't want to talk any more about that...

We can point out individual performances that were pretty good, some that were just ok in parts, but as a team they simply have to learn a killer instinct.

I also sincerely hope Pat and his coaching team have paid attention to the Ulster - Oyonnax game if there's any impression within the squad that Saturday will be a procession to four points. Brive are going to try and absolutely brutalise us, which is well within their capability especially at home. Eight games at home this season already and one very narrow loss to Clermont.is a big red (or balck & White.. ) flag...

Personally I'm not entirely sure if it's even worth putting out our strongest team, especially given our recent horrendous casualty list if qualification to Champions Cup from the Pro12 is our main focus.BUt the guys coming back from injury like Bundee, Dennis and Nathan need game time together...

Sickened again, How many games is that in the last two years. Score against the opposition and then concede shortly afterwards.
Its all well and good getting in one maybe two phases to get your ten set up to release the pressure but we instead played with fire and gave the ref the chance to blow for the penalty.
I dont think it warranted a yellow and anywhere else on the pitch it probably wouldnt have been a penalty.

Healy and Toh were class. Toh makes great ground for a lad his size and has made the 15 shirt his. Healy showed great gas and stepping all day. Its a pity he dropped the ball when grounding as it would have been a class try.
Masterson again had a good game and was unlucky for the try when he obviously knocked the ball back.
Aki- Stupid yellow, He didnt do enough in the game and king until his late knock was making things happen for they in the 13 channel.

Carty some great touches but he should have demanded the ball and put us down town before Locks gave away the penalty.
I thought Lam should have sent on the front row replacements sooner. We were struggling and the fresh legs got us going again.

Pissed off with the results as are the players as we deserved more after the 1st half peformance.

This was a game we should have put away in the first half, overall we played well but just lack that clinical and maybe cynical edge .

On another day we would have had the two tries awarded and lockys misdemeanour would have been over looked ( it was never a YC and barely a pen IMO )

That said the winning of the game was in our own hands and we blew it. Big chance gone and we are making life very hard for ourselves.

Right now we are 4th but munster & ulster have not played their 12th round yet. If they win those games we are in 6th position straight away. I took this screen shot when we went top of the table 8th of nov . We haven't got too many points since then. We have to put the boot down now or we are in trouble.