sea_point wrote:

menacethedenis wrote: Brive - Connacht
Stade Amedee-Domenech
Sat, 16-01-2016 19:45pm

After Sunday's bitterly disappointing loss this could give us a chance to get back to winning ways, which would be a huge boost mentally before facing the Scarlets again in 2 weeks time. To be honest, I'm not that bothered about this competition. Yes it would be great to win something but I'd prefer to concentrate on the Pro12. Big selection decisions for Pat this week. Do we go with strongest team available or rest/rotate, which in fairness he has managed well this season. Do Brive care about this competition? What sort of team can we expect from them?

They're sixth in Top14 currently, and in no sign of danger of of relegation. My thinking is that they'll view Saturday as make or break in this competition, and with the loss in Galway in mind and also eagerness to preserve their record of success at home we'll see a near as dammit a full strength Brive side I think...

This is the Squad that beat Montpellier 19-18 at home in TOP14 on 02/01/16:
www.eurosport.co.uk/rugby/top-14/2015-20...mtc795395/live.shtml

1 Karlen Asieshvili
2 Guillaume Ribes
3 Giorgi Jgenti
4 Peet Marais
5 Arnaud Mela
6 Petrus Hauman
7 Dominiko Waqaniburotu
8 Sisa Koyamaibole

9 Teddy Iribaren
10 Nicolas Bézy

11 Benedito Masilevu
12 Putasi Luafutu
13 Arnaud Mignardi
14 Guillaume Namy
15 Mathieu Ugalde

Rep:
16. Thomas Laranjeira
17. Jean-Baptiste Pejoine
18. Damien Jourdain
19. Lucas Pointud
20. William Whetton
21. Fabien Sanconnie
22. François Da Ros
23. Wilhelm Steenkamp

Poster on the Brive forum reported this XV at training today:

BUYS ACQUIER. LAVERGNE

LEBAS. MÊLA

WEYTTON KOYA SANCONIE

UGALDE PEJOINE

NAMY. LARANJEIRA TUATARA . MIGNARDI

SOLA

Decent enough side, probably a second-string front five but otherwise strong: most of the remainder featured in the recent home win against Clermont.

NB, For those of you at home, the game in live on France 4 , one of the free-to-air national TV channels!

I presume it's geo-blocked but where there's a will and a lap-top....

Read a quote from Pat in Linley's article there, he said he'd go with the "strongest 23 available".

pinky wrote:

connachta wrote:

pinky wrote: There's opportunity to rotate players the following week without risking defeat and then there's a rest weekend after the Scarlets game.

The idea is to rest players BEFORE this key game. And I'd prefer to rest some now rather than just the week before...

How is resting two weeks before a game more advantageous than resting the week before?

1) to have a continuity/sequence of game : for example Aki, off injured, 3 weeks on since Leinster, rest against Brive, two weeks on Enisei-Scarlets, rest a week after Etc... I might be wrong about that, but i feel it more balanced

2) more decisive, The Brive game will be HUGELY more physical than Enisei, and is more demanding and riskier for our key players

3) Parata/Robb/Poolman/McKeon/Leader need/deserve gametime against both Brive and Enisei IMO, that's perfect timing the rest the others..

connachta wrote:

pinky wrote: There's opportunity to rotate players the following week without risking defeat and then there's a rest weekend after the Scarlets game.

The idea is to rest players BEFORE this key game. And I'd prefer to rest some now rather than just the week before...

How is resting two weeks before a game more advantageous than resting the week before?

pinky wrote: There's opportunity to rotate players the following week without risking defeat and then there's a rest weekend after the Scarlets game.

The idea is to rest players BEFORE this key game. And I'd prefer to rest some now rather than just the week before...

I can't really imagine he'll rest too many players for this.
Pat's strategy last season was to rest players away for the early games but once it was clear qualification was on the cards, he sent a strong team to La Rochelle for the last game. I would assume he'd do the same.
There's opportunity to rotate players the following week without risking defeat and then there's a rest weekend after the Scarlets game.

RogueXV wrote: In light of the injuries and returns I'd go with the back line Connachta suggested in the Scarlets thread:

9) Blade
10) Carty
11) Niyi
12) Robb
13) Parata
14) Poolman
15) TOH

21) Porter
22) MacGinty
23) Leader

I'd personally would be tempted to start AJ, but as Connachta said Jack's performance against the Scarlets probably earns him the right to build on it. MacGinty can then start the Enisei game and Jack can be rested if Ronaldson is fit. TOH probably also needs to wait a week to get a rest. Leader could go in at FB but TOH offers stability at the back especially with the number of changes that might be made. Leader can be eased back this way and there will probably more options next week with Ronaldson likely fully fit, maybe Henshaw being ready and Aki and Healy rested and available if needed.

Can anyone refresh my memory on Fionn Carr's injury?

Yes we agree, before the injury update I thought Leader had still a month to go, but then good news, he's the perfect n°23, we should rest Ronaldson/Healy (and be patient for Henshaw)

RogueXV wrote:
Can anyone refresh my memory on Fionn Carr's injury?

Calf injury I believe.

In light of the injuries and returns I'd go with the back line Connachta suggested in the Scarlets thread:

9) Blade
10) Carty
11) Niyi
12) Robb
13) Parata
14) Poolman
15) TOH

21) Porter
22) MacGinty
23) Leader

I'd personally would be tempted to start AJ, but as Connachta said Jack's performance against the Scarlets probably earns him the right to build on it. MacGinty can then start the Enisei game and Jack can be rested if Ronaldson is fit. TOH probably also needs to wait a week to get a rest. Leader could go in at FB but TOH offers stability at the back especially with the number of changes that might be made. Leader can be eased back this way and there will probably more options next week with Ronaldson likely fully fit, maybe Henshaw being ready and Aki and Healy rested and available if needed.

Can anyone refresh my memory on Fionn Carr's injury?

Jake Heenan not in Euro Squad either - guessing if he did take a knock he'll be grand in time for Scarlets

Accidentally Onside wrote: Is Denis Buckley a cyborg, thought he was due back early/mid February

No word on Api Pewhairangi either- was hoping we might see him in the next two games

I'd guess Jake is fine if he's not mentioned.

Pewhairangi was not included in the Challenge Cup squad so he is not eligible to play.

Yes, hopefully no news is good news in Jake's case.

Is Denis Buckley a cyborg, thought he was due back early/mid February

No word on Api Pewhairangi either- was hoping we might see him in the next two games

I'd guess Jake is fine if he's not mentioned.

As attention turns to the European Challenge Cup and the trip to play Brive in round 5 of the competition, the Connacht Rugby medical team provided the following update.

Post Scarlets game

Andrew Browne
Following an X-ray on Monday, it was confirmed that second row Andrew Browne suffered an A/C fracture in the opening half of Sunday’s game. The Galway man is facing 4 to 6 weeks on the sidelines.

Kieran Marmion
Scrum half Kieran Marmion suffered a hip flexor during the weekend’s PRO12 clash in Wales. The 23-year-old will be monitored this week ahead of the team announcement.

Craig Ronaldson
Versatile back Craig Ronaldson will also be closely monitored this week, having taken a knock to his right shoulder.

Returning

Denis Buckley
Loosehead prop Denis Buckley has been cleared fit and available for selection this week following a positive review with the surgeon who performed his knee operation in December. The 25-year-old has been re-registered to the European squad list, in place of Saba Meunargia from the Academy.

Eoin McKeon
Number 8 Eoin McKeon is also available for selection this week, having returned from the elbow injury sustained in early December.

Darragh Leader
Galway man Darragh Leader has re-joined training this week and is expected to be available for selection in the coming weeks.

Others

Robbie Henshaw
Last week’s CT scan showed that Robbie Henshaw’s hand fracture was not fully healed. The surgeon has advised another 1-2 weeks before the Ireland international returns to match action.

Nepia Fox-Matamua
Openside flanker Nepia Fox-Matamua’s surgery last week on his ruptured ACL was successful and the New Zealander is expected to be fit for pre-season 2016/17.

Brive v Connacht
Saturday January 16th
Stade Amedee-Damenech
Kick off 8:45pm local time

Live on FR4 / beIN Sports
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

I was hoping to see an update on Jake Heenan. Anyone know any more than what's detailed above?

Also, I hadn't realised the game is going to be televised. I'm sure my wife will be delighted.

I'd go one of two ways:
1) Anyone who'd normally be called first XV a rest, bar the ones coming back from injury (Heenan, Henshaw [if available], etc). Guys like Masterson, Marmion, Ronaldson, TOH and Bundee I'd not even have travel- let them put their feet up for the games ahead.
2) Go with as strong a first 15 as possible and then rest everyone the week after against the Russians

Happily we're in a place where we can send out our nominal seconds and expect them to put in a competitive showing against just about anyone

Edit: for the record I'd do the first. French teams at home are tough to beat so I'd rather save the heavy guns as they could lose anyway and then it was all for nowt

menacethedenis wrote: Brive - Connacht
Stade Amedee-Domenech
Sat, 16-01-2016 19:45pm

After Sunday's bitterly disappointing loss this could give us a chance to get back to winning ways, which would be a huge boost mentally before facing the Scarlets again in 2 weeks time. To be honest, I'm not that bothered about this competition. Yes it would be great to win something but I'd prefer to concentrate on the Pro12. Big selection decisions for Pat this week. Do we go with strongest team available or rest/rotate, which in fairness he has managed well this season. Do Brive care about this competition? What sort of team can we expect from them?

They're sixth in Top14 currently, and in no sign of danger of of relegation. My thinking is that they'll view Saturday as make or break in this competition, and with the loss in Galway in mind and also eagerness to preserve their record of success at home we'll see a near as dammit a full strength Brive side I think...

This is the Squad that beat Montpellier 19-18 at home in TOP14 on 02/01/16:
www.eurosport.co.uk/rugby/top-14/2015-20...mtc795395/live.shtml

1 Karlen Asieshvili
2 Guillaume Ribes
3 Giorgi Jgenti
4 Peet Marais
5 Arnaud Mela
6 Petrus Hauman
7 Dominiko Waqaniburotu
8 Sisa Koyamaibole

9 Teddy Iribaren
10 Nicolas Bézy

11 Benedito Masilevu
12 Putasi Luafutu
13 Arnaud Mignardi
14 Guillaume Namy
15 Mathieu Ugalde

Rep:
16. Thomas Laranjeira
17. Jean-Baptiste Pejoine
18. Damien Jourdain
19. Lucas Pointud
20. William Whetton
21. Fabien Sanconnie
22. François Da Ros
23. Wilhelm Steenkamp