phatguerilla wrote: We've come a long way to where we can be cribbing about dropping a bonus point, but there's not many teams that would celebrate a victory like that. First half, obviously a lack of execution at times but looked good for the four tries.

Second half I think dragons figured us out, started to defend tight and push up hard and fast on the outside, which isolates most options for the first receiver who started to turn back inside more and more. If Dragons actually fancied their chances they might have done more analysis and figured this out sooner and we might really have been in trouble. Is it my imagination or is there no plan b? Couldn't 9 at least occasionally pass deeper to 12 rather than 10 who might find more space out wide if teams are defending narrowly?

To give up so much ball on the ground even after bringing on a second openside is crazy and really concerning as we all know how much stock Lam put in having a proper openside to make his gameplan function.

Obviously there is a big last year versus this year feel to the entire season and the sequel is never as good as the original, but there seems to be a general lack of composure and thinking compared to last year. Issues like the restart which were finally cracked last year seem to have regressed - this shouldn't be an issue of personnel or skill though, it should just be a question of organisation. If we start to put pressure on ourselves in those scenarios what hope is there for an incisive counterattack?

Some players guilty of trying too hard, trying to steal a few metres in contact and actually creating a separation from their support enabling Dragons to create turnovers. Line-outs, sorry but Cannon has to start, with AN Other beside him. Neither starters overly impressed yesterday, didn't see anything of substance at all from either Quinn or Ultan in attack or defence.

Not too concerned about Ronaldson/Farrell combination overall, they'll improve with game together. But the backs badly miss the leadership of Bundee, more than a bit rudderless out there at times. Early tries masked this somewhat against Dragons, but with Jack at ten we're a bit obvious in our points of attack. If we have quick ball it can mitigate this, but slower ball and we're over and back and prone to getting caught out at the breakdown...

Key differences between Jack & AJ last season was the variety in AJ's game, he knew when he had to take on more responsibility close in and tie in the opposition defence instead of allowing the drift. No wonder our wings are suffering a wee bit, there's no space being generated for them at all...
Got to be more direct sometimes and more patient in possession, go around the corner and build the phases but be prepared to vary the attack as well..,

phatguerilla wrote: We've come a long way to where we can be cribbing about dropping a bonus point, but there's not many teams that would celebrate a victory like that. First half, obviously a lack of execution at times but looked good for the four tries.

Second half I think dragons figured us out, started to defend tight and push up hard and fast on the outside, which isolates most options for the first receiver who started to turn back inside more and more. If Dragons actually fancied their chances they might have done more analysis and figured this out sooner and we might really have been in trouble. Is it my imagination or is there no plan b? Couldn't 9 at least occasionally pass deeper to 12 rather than 10 who might find more space out wide if teams are defending narrowly?

To give up so much ball on the ground even after bringing on a second openside is crazy and really concerning as we all know how much stock Lam put in having a proper openside to make his gameplan function.

Obviously there is a big last year versus this year feel to the entire season and the sequel is never as good as the original, but there seems to be a general lack of composure and thinking compared to last year. Issues like the restart which were finally cracked last year seem to have regressed - this shouldn't be an issue of personnel or skill though, it should just be a question of organisation. If we start to put pressure on ourselves in those scenarios what hope is there for an incisive counterattack?

If you discount the Treviso game we have scored 185 points in 13 games this season

Yup I agree. The darts were very catchable (maybe not perfect) but there was a Dragons jumper up competing pretty successfully every. single. time. I wonder if it would be at all possible to get a lineout specialist coach in to try and get Dillane and/or Roux up to speed? Then again it may not be Duffy's coaching that's the problem but the lads themselves not being able to get it, I'd find that a lot more worrying..

Dragons changed tack and personnel for the second half.

We had them beat out the gate in the first half, a 3rd try and they would have capitulated, instead hey got a few penalties and our line out crumbled. Even thought they defended better in the second half, we still got behind them and had chances to kill them off. Each time our line out crumbled they got a lift. I don't see the darts of Heff being at fault here. McCartney didn't do much better until Cannon came on. The had out calls figured out.

It will be a long time before Niyi gets near an Ireland jersey again. He needs to learn to recycle a ball in contact. Ultan Dillane might find himself out of the Ireland squad too

We've come a long way to where we can be cribbing about dropping a bonus point, but there's not many teams that would celebrate a victory like that. First half, obviously a lack of execution at times but looked good for the four tries.

Second half I think dragons figured us out, started to defend tight and push up hard and fast on the outside, which isolates most options for the first receiver who started to turn back inside more and more. If Dragons actually fancied their chances they might have done more analysis and figured this out sooner and we might really have been in trouble. Is it my imagination or is there no plan b? Couldn't 9 at least occasionally pass deeper to 12 rather than 10 who might find more space out wide if teams are defending narrowly?

To give up so much ball on the ground even after bringing on a second openside is crazy and really concerning as we all know how much stock Lam put in having a proper openside to make his gameplan function.

Obviously there is a big last year versus this year feel to the entire season and the sequel is never as good as the original, but there seems to be a general lack of composure and thinking compared to last year. Issues like the restart which were finally cracked last year seem to have regressed - this shouldn't be an issue of personnel or skill though, it should just be a question of organisation. If we start to put pressure on ourselves in those scenarios what hope is there for an incisive counterattack?

connachta wrote: the sunlight within the blur of a mitigated night

Beautiful. Title of Chapter 17 of your autobiography Connachta. Looking forward to it

Yeah 1 real mistake the rest was good. We agree!
And indeed we should sign him.
Can't wait to see Farrell's battle for interpros, after SOB's ones

I have to agree with you Bazzo, both Farrell & Ronaldson were excellent tonight. Only saw Farrell drop one ball all game. He'd made yet another good line break, got tackled & looked for a one handed offload but wisely deciding not to as it was too risky but he couldn't get the ball back in two hands before he hit the ground leading to a knock on. Showed great skill & initiative going forward all night and his defence and reading of the game left nothing to be desired. The sooner Connacht sign him on a long term contract the better.

I know I crib about Jack, and I appreciate we have no option, but this is altogether bordering on ridiculous

dobby wrote: don't like stats much. I wanted him to play well but not his best game

Dobby I get your "feeling" and I think what you saw misled you more than stats.
He didn't really "drop" balls. It happens 3 or 4 times because it was impossible balls to catch, with opponent tackling him at he same time he tried to take it.

Look I spent the whole game watching him very closely, and he made ONE silly mistake. The rest was either very good or unblamable.

Jay, came out of the game annoyed and frustrated with their performance, some very exciting moves in first half against a very out of sorts Dragons, but plenty of mess ups and mistakes even in the first half when they had opportunities to kill the game off. Instead they gave Dragons the equivalent of the kiss of life, and we seemed to try our best to lose the game against poor opponents.
And please, don't start me on the lineouts although when Cannon came on it seemed to significantly improve that issue.
Not getting a bonus point tonight is a big disappointment, I hope it doesn't come back to bite us

Stop embarrassing yourself. Not his best game compared to what? That's his first start. Stats can be misleading but he did well. He looks promising and a better long term option than Griffin, Parata or Robb.

You're entitled to your opinion... I just very strongly disagree

Bazzo wrote:

dobby wrote:

Bazzo wrote: 11 runs, 37m made, FIVE! defenders beaten(25% of our incredible but unconverted total of 19), 1 clean break, 4 passes, 1 offload, 9 completed tackles 0 missed. In summary: are you having a laugh? If not maybe YOU should watch it again

EDIT: added some more positive stats...

don't like stats much. I wanted him to play well but not his best game

No offense I'll take pretty outstanding stats like that over your vague opinion any day of the week.

no offense taken. as I saw it was another ineffective centre partnership. always huge respect to Ronaldson. outside nothing. my opinion

dobby wrote:

Bazzo wrote: 11 runs, 37m made, FIVE! defenders beaten(25% of our incredible but unconverted total of 19), 1 clean break, 4 passes, 1 offload, 9 completed tackles 0 missed. In summary: are you having a laugh? If not maybe YOU should watch it again

EDIT: added some more positive stats...

don't like stats much. I wanted him to play well but not his best game

No offense I'll take pretty outstanding stats like that over your vague opinion any day of the week.

Bazzo wrote: 11 runs, 37m made, FIVE! defenders beaten(25% of our incredible but unconverted total of 19), 1 clean break, 4 passes, 1 offload, 9 completed tackles 0 missed. In summary: are you having a laugh? If not maybe YOU should watch it again

EDIT: added some more positive stats...

Exactly what I was about to post
Only Ronaldson with his breakthroughs and his same ratio of 9 tackles None missed can hold the comparison tonight.
Great centre pairing, Aki should (nearly) remain waterboy