I'd be less critical of our wingers frankly, for whatever reason we are not getting anywhere near the same width as we did last year.
Ball is getting to Healy & Niyi with far less precision and space (if at all).

Ili unsurprisingly looked rusty (as the whole team did in 1st half), while Farrel's cameo was very good.
Thought Blade was good at taking on the Blues defence, but very poor at distribution. Seems to require the ball to be on a plate and everything just so to send out a pass from the breakdown. Gave too much time for Blues defence to re-align and pick a target..

As with Connachta's post, I wouldn't mind seeing Farrell alongside Bundee at some point. Craig can do a job at 10 and has the ability to fix defences as a ball carrier.

While Jack did one or two very good things yesterday, felt he disappeared a bit when he needed to take control in the last ten minutes.
Less said the better about his body language when he was attempting the drop goal, but unconvincing is being kind...:whistle:

Basically we looked like a team that hadn't played any match rugby in the first 40 minutes, But if you'd offered me a win on the road, after a break, against a very decent Blues squad.
I'd have taken elbow and all...

Too much rugby to be played yet for us to behave to be writing off 6th just yet. Yes we have to win a good few games but teams above us also have to get wins also. We have some great players returning from now until the end of March. We have to start with getting three wins in the next three and at least two bonus wins in that lot.
It was always going to be a tough season .

wp_rathead wrote: I was wondering if you would bite
But ya, Scarlets beating Glasgow was a disaster

I am thinking of getting T-shirts done.
"I finished sixth in the Pro12, but because those six teams only represented two countries, all I got was a play-off spot away in Toulouse and this lousy and unnecessarily verbose T-shirt".

pinky wrote:

wp_rathead wrote: Operation Top 6 is back on

Operation Top 6 was never on in the first place since you don't get anything for finishing sixth :evil:
This is especially true now as Glasgow are probably the team most likely to finish in sixth spot.

I was wondering if you would bite
But ya, Scarlets beating Glasgow was a disaster

connachta wrote: That's a fine performance

I would say it's absolutely a fine result, and an impressive, determined second half performance, but a lot of the problems in the first half were of our own making.

wp_rathead wrote: special mention to JP Cooney who had a great first half (one of the few that can be said about)

He was definitely a terrace favourite (even in the second half after he had gone off).

wp_rathead wrote: Operation Top 6 is back on

Operation Top 6 was never on in the first place since you don't get anything for finishing sixth :evil:
This is especially true now as Glasgow are probably the team most likely to finish in sixth spot.

Guys I don't think we have enjoyed enough the solid win of yesterday

Danny Wilson was able to select a strong side, with internationals Rhys Gill, Kris Dacey and Anton Peikrishvili starting in the front row, Nick Williams at eight, Wales half-back duo Lloyd Williams and Gareth Anscombe, and international released pair Rhun Williams and Blaine Scully in the back three.

And IIRC this is our 1st away win in pro12 since the 4th of March 2016 in Murrayfield!!
That's a fine performance

Personally think Matt thinks about the tackle that's about to hit him and the injury he could get when he goes to catch the pas. Trust me, when there's 2-3 lads over 100kg running at you faster than the ball is travelling it's hard to stay focused on the ball. Like he had no problem catching for his try because no pressure coming close to him. Great result but personally thinks Blade deserves the start next week, would be great to have his tempo and run in the 4 try's early.. Farrell to start centre with bundee on the bench.. Also be good to see ili/poolman or somebody take the wing for a week, niyi isn't near the level of last season and as mentions matts abit frustrated. So a bit of competition on display might drive them on too.

Not sure what the issue is with Matt Healy but he sure appears to spill more than his fair share. He is still wearing some sort of glove so he could be playing through injury. If he can sort this out, he (we) will get lots more tries. Missed a sitter today but thankfully it didn't stop us getting the victory.

wp_rathead wrote:

dobby wrote: I think the call against Niyi was correct. While the Blues player palmed the ball back, Niyi touched it also so it was the correct call in my eyes.

Still can't believe we pulled it off

Strangely I felt the opposite to the point that I put a bet on Connacht winning by 13 points or more. I knew this game was huge in Connachts season and if they were ever going to pull off a big win, this was the one. The only factor (weakness) for me was at outside centre. We so badly miss a quality 13 outside Craig that really breaks lines. So I sauntered down to the bookie and struggled with this in my mind. Will Ili really be effective. But I knew Farrell was on the bench and I have huge time for him. I did feel the win was always a possibility, we just need that gamebreaker at centre. So now we have Bundee and Tom which is fantastic.

Things I am enthused about is Sean O'Brien's development, James Cannon and Quinn Roux. Never mind Caolin. Jake had a really good game today but has not had a great run of games. Nepia is consistently good. I am getting frustrated week on week with poor decisions by Niyi which is costing the team. Ball in hand he sees nobody else. And sadly that is not the first ball Matt has dropped in recent times. Things to work on but a great win.

dobby wrote: I think the call against Niyi was correct. While the Blues player palmed the ball back, Niyi touched it also so it was the correct call in my eyes.

Ya I thought I saw it touch Niyis fingers in one of the angles so correct call for me - but glad didn't haunt us as wasn't exactly clear cut

Still can't believe we pulled it off, the next run of games is suddenly vital.

When is Zebre away being rescheduled for do people know?

Huge win for our season. Tom McCartney's carry for the try before half time was so important. 13-0 and 13-7 are two completely different games. As players slowly come back and we've a chance to do proper training sessions we're finally starting to look like a team again, still lots to work on but most of the big losses aren't far away from returning and we have a run of very winnable games coming up. Next up Dragons at home we need to keep the momentum going.

connachta wrote: Farrell is a gem.
Too soon to call, but he's shown the attitudes I've only seen in the best 13 way of behaving.
Please Pat, just try Aki/Farrell pairing before leaving. Nothing against Ron, you all know how I like him, but the (near) future lies here...

Wouldn't agree with this. Craig is a rock solid inside centre on which players like Aki or Farrell at outside centre can benefit from. Craig is hugely important at inside centre. The fact that Stacey can not take advantage might bring into the question whether he is a better centre or more likely a better winger, which he seems to embrace more. Was great to see Finlay was released for the game. He put up a few air-miles over the last few days .

Farrell is a gem.
Too soon to call, but he's shown the attitudes I've only seen in the best 13 way of behaving.
Please Pat, just try Aki/Farrell pairing before leaving. Nothing against Ron, you all know how I like him, but the (near) future lies here...

Farrell's not on loan but he is only signed to Connacht til season's end. He's a Dub but both parents are Connacht natives and he seems delighted to have a shot at the big time so I'm expecting an extension announcement any time. With the back three we have we need centres who can commit people and distribute, so he's well suited to us.

He's a serious player alright - that offload off the deck near the left touchline was just phenomenal.

It was a hard fought win but a deserved win. I thought the opportunity was gone with Jack missing the attempt at goal and Matt dropping the ball when all he had to do was catch and fall over the line. You just felt it wasn't going to be Connachts day. So then when Tieran hit the drop-goal it was a huge lift. Thought Craig was fantastic, Tom Farrell really is some find (what's the story with him, isn't he on loan until the end of the year and then we lose him). He is a fantastic addition to the squad and please God we can hold onto him. Caolin was dynamite from the minute he came on. I think the call against Niyi was correct. While the Blues player palmed the ball back, Niyi touched it also so it was the correct call in my eyes. Scrappy game but how many times have we lost these types of games. Top 6 is a huge ask, but after watching a dismal Ulster performance on Friday, not an impossibility