We were far from perfect yesterday but I think we've got to take account of what we were up against. Even if Wasps had a few injuries they are a top side. You aren't going to get many scoring chances when playing against one of the Top 4 or 5 teams in this competition. With the physicality of the Wasps backrow at the breakdown that was always going to be a difficult area especially with Jake out. I thought Nepia again played well. The space wasn't there that was obviously there out wide against Toulouse for example.

Those being critical of the mistakes we made should look back at some of the errors Wasps made, our pressure forced them into a lot of bad decisions. Our defence has been very disjointed at times but in the main we defended well last night. The first try was a big disappointment to be fair but the way we hung in there at 3-7 down a man camped on our own line when in all likelihood a try would have put it beyond us was heroic. We're still not where we want to be in terms of performance but we went toe to toe over 2 games against one of the top sides in this competition and for me were deserving of our 4 points last night.

This can hopefully be the springboard to some big results in the weeks ahead.

What a result, it has to be said though that we were absolutely atrocious apart from the 15-20 minutes before half time and 5 minutes at the end.

With the ball we are still fairly dangerous, but made lots of silly individual errors and look a little lost and aimless at times, a stark contrast to last year. Also we were an absolute mess at the breakdown, players constantly getting isolated, I'd say we got turned over 15-20 times over the two games, mainly in good attacking positions. Our defence held together fairly well despite looking a bit exposed at times.

Also surprised not to see it mentioned that the new laws regarding kicking to touch after full time aren't in place yet so maybe we should bear that in mind when complaining about the ref!

I'm sorry if this comes across as overly negative, it was a great day but there are still some major issues that need fixing with the team. Some players really stood up when it counted, Niyi with the turnove and especially Carty. I hope getting that kick gives him the sort of boost that Paddy Jackson got when he started making crucial winning kicks. Thought SOB was brilliant off the bench , don't know why he doesn't start more considering his defensive play is nearly perfect and he seems to have added carrying to his game too. Dawai had a big impact too and I'd like to see him start at 8 to give Muldoon a rest, can't wait to have Masterson back as well he'll be like a new signing.

Marmion has been brilliant too, what I think we're seeing is the benefit of him getting a full half against Australia, and getting well deserved praise from Joe. He's playing with such confidence whereas I think he used to come back from Ireland duty a bit short on confidence after being left on the bench all game.

Bit of a rant, but anyway well done lads and hopefully this is the start of a great 2nd half of the season

borders5 wrote:
By the way, is there a link to the Bundee interview please?

vid.me/Zqvl

The Wasps fan's site are saying that the better team won fair and square. Also, it was mentioned that if there had not been a change of referee, they would probably have won.

By the way, is there a link to the Bundee interview please? I had to rush out and missed it; it has been mentioned in a number of places so i would love to see it. What did he say if I cannot get hold of it.
I am still celebrating.

connachta wrote: When I saw Niyi contesting the ball I thought "game over", than he held on one or two extra seconds against 2 or 3 Wasps forwards, He was considered too light for Pro rugby two years ago, now he winn that kind of turnovers. Deserves all the credit for the equaliser try, thank you to him!

Just watched this 79:59 action again, Niyi commitment is amazing

If Beale's tackle last week was a card (which many, including myself, felt it probably wasn't) then Woolley's tackle this week definitely was. Their scrum started off strong but later they were running it around, seemed fairly blatant on the tv where you could see their feet angling outwards.

Overall it was an amazing reversal of the away fixture, their bench really won the last game whereas ours kept us in it this time. The starting team did well but the impact of Sob, Heff, Stevenson, Dawai, even Danie's cameo, were all 100% vital to the win. Sob came on and made 3-4 massive hits and carries that seemed to come out of nowhere. We got barely any joy at the ruck all game and then Dawai comes in and makes a massive tackle, monsters Launchbury at the ruck, blocks down a kick and leads the chase. Humongous effort off the bench. Heff and Stevenson combined to make the most high pressure lineout the best of the night, Stevenson's seemed to be the cleanest take of any Connacht throw and without it that maul wouldn't have been as effective.

Great display of captaincy from Muldoon to tell the sub ref he had to give the lineout, had complete confidence in his pack, no hesitations to allow doubt to creep in. The absolute scenes when Jack hit that conversion.

I'm obviously delighted with the result but if Niyi didn't make that turnover (what a turnover btw, Joe would have loved that) then we'd be talking about a very disappointing game. Overall it feels like the gameplan is regressing a bit, the 4 in the 2-4-2 seems sloppy or non-existent, although the 2s are still on the wings, but are we getting as much use out of them now? Credit to Wasps who did their homework and managed to defend tight in numbers while also not getting caught out wide, but surely we played into their hands a bit with the amount of one up boshing that was going on - that's meat and drink to a premiership teams defence.

They also managed to make a complete mess of the breakdown and we didn't seem to have an answer to it by and large, perhaps that's down to the ref but last year we were more than capable of adapting to a game, it doesn't feel like we're making the same changes this year. Although this could be a turning point for the season, having back to back interpros after two already hugely physical games is going to have a toll on the squad.

Look, those kinds of decisions will ALWAYS get a boo at a home ground. The Wasps fans were booing all the time in Coventry and nobody(including me) held it against them, and it'll happen in any home ground for any team.

eezipc wrote: This is great from Gerry Thornley. Although he never mentioned anything about the half time entertainment.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-...-yet-again-1.2910237

strangely he did mention the no-arms tackle on Niyi that you seem to have a grievance with Connacht fans about even though it was so clear and obvious. obviously we are just smucks in the west who don't understand the finer points of rugby that you do. would have loved to have hung around tonight after the match but needed to get back to my home in leinster. currently booking my away trip to Toulouse. last one was murrayfield. has been too long.

This is great from Gerry Thornley. Although he never mentioned anything about the half time entertainment.
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-...-yet-again-1.2910237

Christ, what a finish. We've all witnessed so many end games of rugby, where a team just play the clock down and kick to touch for victory. Wasps looked like they were going to do that comfortably. In comes Niyi. Unreal. Fair play to the pack for getting over, and our new boy on his debut dotting down. Plenty has already been said about Jack - some balls. As he alluded to himself in the post match interview, maybe the fact it was on the touch line took the pressure off in a way, because it's acceptable to miss those. Thank Christ he didn't.

One fairly significant downside for me was Conor Carey coming off with what looked like a serious enough injury. I love Finlay, but I have a feeling he was at the root of some of our scrum problems today. We are definitely lacking depth in the prop department right now.

I pretty much chalk down games away to Ulster as losses at the start of the season at this point, so anything from that would be a bonus. Looking forward to the game against Munster though. They are certainly on the up, so a tough couple of weeks ahead.

RonanL wrote: The "heehawing" is a bit of craic. You're entitled to your opinion, but I think you're in the minority on that one. On the offside front, I know there are many who don't understand the offside laws in rugby, and that's fair enough because not everyone is a die hard. Those people's money is as good as anyone else's.

I had to miss the game but watching it back now. 64 mins gone. In my opinion the ref/tmo bottled the call on the "accidental head collision" between Niyi and their 3. Looked clear to me from many replays that he lead with his shoulder, and arms were an afterthought. At least a penalty, and these days probably should have been yellow.

That was exactly how it was presented on the big screen which I think it was why Garces ruffled many feathers among the natives. I personally thought his decision, when presented with the same information I was, was simply shocking. It was clear there was no arms. I appreciate the wasps player laid on the ground in discomfort but what he did was so totally illegal.

What a night and what character! Great times to savour and future looks good.
Great work from Niyi to earn the penalty at the end and fair play to Carty, will have to give him confidence - class kick.
Right now I'm enjoying this journey!

eezipc wrote:

Magpie wrote:

eezipc wrote:

Wasrednowgreen wrote: Jack Carty - take a bow son. I doubted you and you rammed it back my throat & I couldn't be more happy. Keep doing it son!!

The crowd did its job and the players feed off that energy...one of the great nights.

My weekend just got better...

It really will go down as one of the great nights in Connacht Rugby, and we have been so lucky the past few years with great nights.
On a negative side, It wasn't a great second half and some of the booing, hehawing and "offside" shouts was a bit embarrassing from the Connacht fans. We are better than that.

However, I agree with what Bundee said to Sky.

Ahh here, get over it, there was very little booing, and Jerome Garces deserved a bit of abuse. As for the hehawing - I hope we never get to a the state were sporting arenas become safe spaces where the thought police ensure nobody says anything offensive to anybody.

Ah here. That's not what I said. There was a guy beside me that was hoarse from shouting offside for everything. Even when Wasps had the ball.Was that you?
And the booing when Niyi clashed heads with the Wasps player. No way that was intentional.
There's no need for that.

I think you have to acknowledge the number of high tackles which were ignored by Garces. This was the limit of most fans patience. The booing was severe but I do believe most fans felt the injury was a bit overdone byCooper Woolley. Niyi was back on his feet and back in the game.
Most people I talked to afterwards agreed that changing the referee for the last 6 minutes gave us the chance to win the match. Only a Munster supporter thought we contrived to lose it by turning over the ball so much to the #2team in England.
So many improvements from last week made Connacht worthy winners tonight.
Believe just like Jack

The "heehawing" is a bit of craic. You're entitled to your opinion, but I think you're in the minority on that one. On the offside front, I know there are many who don't understand the offside laws in rugby, and that's fair enough because not everyone is a die hard. Those people's money is as good as anyone else's.

I had to miss the game but watching it back now. 64 mins gone. In my opinion the ref/tmo bottled the call on the "accidental head collision" between Niyi and their 3. Looked clear to me from many replays that he lead with his shoulder, and arms were an afterthought. At least a penalty, and these days probably should have been yellow.

Not getting into a row and we are all entitled to our own opinions and the like But seriously ..... Lets just enjoy one of our best ever days !!