Maybe but for once good news, he's to be seen on today trainning pics, ball in handS
Aki sat down though, maybe a Robb/Parata pairing?
Gaffney on multiples pics too, interesting.

Healy had to get 10 stitches in his hand when he went off on Saturday (or so I've been told)

connachta wrote: Sometimes I partly agree with you, but there it's close to 100%.
Healy was still weak when it comes to tackle though, and I think Nepia would be the most likely biggest hole in the squad this summer if, as a NIQ, he doesn't re-sign (could well happen with the residency rules changing).
Roux and McCartney are becoming prominent in our squad, glad to have them 2 more years. SOB huge prospect. Poolman deserves gametime.

Healy is still working his way back from injury, and it was noticeable how the hand injury which put Poolman on the pitch for his 1st half try proved troublesome when he returned. Particularly when carrying the ball and (seemed to struggle to generate nay power when in contact to hold onto the ball). Also when trying to tackle,where he struggled to wrap in the tackle a coupe of times in the 2nd half..

dobby wrote: And then we come to a pack that was so dominant last week and everything was in reverse this week. Now I am no genius on the ins and outs of this but Finlay seemed to struggle. I can't swear to that as I do not know enough. And when you had Wasps stealing the ball in the ruck consistently there was no obvious sign of Denis Buckley (our primary poacher). As for Tom, well I figure he could line up against the Eiffel Tower and bring it down. I am so delighted he and Denis re-signed.

Garces hadn't a notion of penalising anyone for holding on, I think he awarded 1 penalty for it to Roux at the start of the game and that was it for the day. Buckley got his hands on the ball a few times but he was eventually cleared out, Carey had his hands on the ball 2-3 times in the 10 mins he was on and got nothing too, Muldoon got a turnover but only because after having his hands on the ball for 3-4 seconds without Garces blowing he managed to rip possession from the player holding on, Launchbury was doing the same thing rather than waiting for a penalty.

Sometimes I partly agree with you, but there it's close to 100%.
Healy was still weak when it comes to tackle though, and I think Nepia would be the most likely biggest hole in the squad this summer if, as a NIQ, he doesn't re-sign (could well happen with the residency rules changing).
Roux and McCartney are becoming prominent in our squad, glad to have them 2 more years. SOB huge prospect. Poolman deserves gametime.

My analysis of the game (appreciated or not). Tiernan is fantastic going forward, his ball retention and recycle is bang on. But somebody needs to sit him down and show him the marmion method of tackling when defending. Until he learns this his international career is on hold. Niyi (fantastic poach at the end of the game) is hell bent on going forward. Problem is he seems unaware of folks around him. He got caught in both Wasps games with ball in possession and penalised for holding on. He needs to see outside himself. Matt did fine, but he again bothers me a bit, in that he struggles to see players around him. That said his offload to Bundee was a gem. Would love to see more of it from Matt. Thought Bundee and Rory were faultless. Thought Marms was staggeringly good. The size of him, and the size of player he brought to ground..

So now I come to Jack. First penalty missed from a decent position. Missed a kick to touch (which against wasps is dangerous), couple of kicks in behind the wasps line that all of us in the stand were simply looking at each other (there was nobody there). And then, and I watched this back, Jack had Dani on his radar, when the ball came a fantastic kick and a fantastic try. You are an enigma young man.

And then we come to a pack that was so dominant last week and everything was in reverse this week. Now I am no genius on the ins and outs of this but Finlay seemed to struggle. I can't swear to that as I do not know enough. And when you had Wasps stealing the ball in the ruck consistently there was no obvious sign of Denis Buckley (our primary poacher). As for Tom, well I figure he could line up against the Eiffel Tower and bring it down. I am so delighted he and Denis re-signed.

I thought Quinn Roux deserves special mention. For a man with such an injury profile to put his body on the line as he did, I was so impressed. And if folks think Andrew Browne is the answer to aly Muldowney I would ask them to look at Quinn. I thought his handling was fantastic. As for Ultan, he doesn't need praise, he simply is brilliant.

And then we have such talent in the back-row. Read an article that John may retire at the end of this year. How could he. He's simply unbelievable. Nepia did great, Eoin did great. But then SOB. What about that. Jeez he was incredible.

So I will return to the Jack saga. His percentages can't continue. No team could possibly win anything in any competition with those percentages. No matter how good the other 14 (22) players are.

gasman wrote: As a wasps fan , can i just say thank yo to you all for making us feel so welcome over the weekend, We sang our hearts out, in the stadium ( and the bars). the result went against us, but we made so many new friends...)

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I can only speak for myself, but I'd be more than happy to have you guys over every season. Great set of fans. All the best for the rest of the season. Just dont give Toulouse any points please

As a wasps fan , can i just say thank yo to you all for making us feel so welcome over the weekend, We sang our hearts out, in the stadium ( and the bars). the result went against us, but we made so many new friends...)

Evil_g wrote: So happy for Jack Carty. Must've been tough to listen to the rubbish spouted by people who have no understanding of what he does. The unfortunate thing is that we'll have to listen to it all again the next time Connacht lose a match.

The issue with Jack's kicking is not that with those from more extreme angles.

His area of weakness is those that should be more straightforward, like his first kick on Sat, 15m infield and not too far back distance wise, similarly to those he missed in Coventry. There's more pressure on those than the touchline kicks (like gimme putts (inside 6ft) in Golf), probably because people expect a lower return with those....

His kicking % !across all competitions is about 55% max, and really at this level it has to be higher (up in the 70's%). If the kicks on Saturday boost his confidence longterm everyone will be delighted. This is not a personal issue, it's performance related only. Because if it doesn't improve we may see it translate into decision making in general play too....

Siob wrote: I wonder was the epcr clarification to prevent other teams from kicking the ball dead without asking? The other refs were probably reading up on the rule change.

I watched the game on TV and was amazed the ref answered "Yes" when Muldoon asked for permission to kick to touch "under the new rules". I thought this new rule was coming in January. Apparently, it's not actually coming in to force in the Northern Hemisphere until next August. It's bizarre that the (replacement) referee was so easily hoodwinked/confused/unsure to make him answer in the positive. I'm surprised the TMO didn't correct him (I dunno if he's allowed to intervene) as it would have made no difference to just retake the penalty in the correct spot and make Connacht run it.

I wonder why - as this lineout only made about 5 yards but brings your opponents to within one metre of your players to compete 50/50 for your own ball - Connacht didn't just run it anyway. However, I'm very glad he didn't!

I wonder was the epcr clarification to prevent other teams from kicking the ball dead without asking? The other refs were probably reading up on the rule change.

Evil_g wrote: So happy for Jack Carty. Must've been tough to listen to the rubbish spouted by people who have no understanding of what he does. The unfortunate thing is that we'll have to listen to it all again the next time Connacht lose a match.

As Pat says its a performance based industry and players are rated on their performance. Are you suggesting that Jack is faultless in his performances. That he is simply misunderstood. That the vast majority of Connacht supporters are simply wrong.It was strange but just before Jack stepped up to take the final kick on Saturday the guy next to be said 'God, I really hope he makes this kick for himself' and I felt exactly the same way. We need Jack functional and not mired in self-doubt for the sake of the team so it was important that he made that kick. Every player will have their critics and Jacks role is so central to the team that any mistake he makes (be it penalty kicks or positional play) has huge consequences. Ian Keatley can attest to this at Munster. So yes Jack will be criticized in the future should people believe he has cost the team a win. Its professional rugby. You stand up or someone else will.

www.wasps.co.uk/news/article/2016/12/19/wasps-statement

Wasps statement on the ecpr statement

I want to take a moment to mention the Wasps fans. Great bunch. Really friendly, and a good laugh

g'wan Jack


[img size=300x300] img2.thejournal.ie/inline/3147309/origin...=630&version=3147309 [/img]

p.s. how do you embed an image in a post?

So happy for Jack Carty. Must've been tough to listen to the rubbish spouted by people who have no understanding of what he does. The unfortunate thing is that we'll have to listen to it all again the next time Connacht lose a match.