dobby wrote: Bit puzzled why Shane O'Leary has disappeared off the injured/unavailabe list in recent games but he is not been included in any squad?

Agreed, also wonder what Danie Poolman has done/ is doing wrong to not be in at least the 23.

I wonder if I haven't seen a newsline about him injured again.
Let's be honnest, tomorrow Crosbie is playing to steal his 3rd/4th choice spot next season.

Othewise Craig/Farrell + Heffernan to start + Parata on the bench, I can hardly be happier

Bit puzzled why Shane O'Leary has disappeared off the injured/unavailabe list in recent games but he is not been included in any squad?

Dragons: T Prydie, A Hughes, T Morgan, A Warren, P Howard, D Jones, T Knoyle, S Hobbs, E Dee, B Harris, N Crosswell, R Landman, O Griffiths, N Cudd, L Evans (captain). Replacements: D Harris, T Davies, L Fairbrother, C Hill, H Keddie, S Pretorius, A O’Brien, S Beard.

Dragons have their new Wales lock (Hill) and their two best players (the always excellent Pretorious & O'Brien) on the bench. No excuses if we don't pound these lads given those selections.

salmson wrote: 8 internationals starting, 5 lads playing for contracts on the bench.

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-team-to-fa...gons-5/#ConnachtNews

Connacht team to face Newport Gwent Dragons

Saturday February 18th, kick off 19:35, the Sportsground

(Connacht caps in brackets)

15 Tiernan O’Halloran (119)
14 Niyi Adeolokun (50)
13 Tom Farrell (2)
12 Craig Ronaldson (59)
11 Matt Healy (85)
10 Jack Carty (72)
9 Kieran Marmion (115)

1 Denis Buckley (109)
2 Dave Heffernan (76)
3 Finlay Bealham (73)
4 Ultan Dillane (37)
5 Quinn Roux (47)
6 Sean O’Brien (32)
7 Jake Heenan (48)
8 John Muldoon (293) (captain)

Replacements:

16 Tom McCartney (57)
17 Ronan Loughney (190)
18 JP Cooney (44)
19 James Cannon (10)
20 Nepia Fox-Matamua (17)
21 Caolin Blade (38)
22 Steve Crosbie (0)
23 Rory Parata (25)

Really like that pack, delighted to see Heffernan get a chance to start, well deserved. Also delighted SOB has reasserted himself as starting blindside, really think he's going to be an international in the next few years. The lineout has been a big problem when Dillane and Roux have started together previously so hopefully that's been sorted. You were right about centre combination no. 9, it'll be interesting to see how the two lads get on but I have a good feeling about them

8 internationals starting, 5 lads playing for contracts on the bench.

www.connachtrugby.ie/connacht-team-to-fa...gons-5/#ConnachtNews

Connacht team to face Newport Gwent Dragons

Saturday February 18th, kick off 19:35, the Sportsground

(Connacht caps in brackets)

15 Tiernan O’Halloran (119)
14 Niyi Adeolokun (50)
13 Tom Farrell (2)
12 Craig Ronaldson (59)
11 Matt Healy (85)
10 Jack Carty (72)
9 Kieran Marmion (115)

1 Denis Buckley (109)
2 Dave Heffernan (76)
3 Finlay Bealham (73)
4 Ultan Dillane (37)
5 Quinn Roux (47)
6 Sean O’Brien (32)
7 Jake Heenan (48)
8 John Muldoon (293) (captain)

Replacements:

16 Tom McCartney (57)
17 Ronan Loughney (190)
18 JP Cooney (44)
19 James Cannon (10)
20 Nepia Fox-Matamua (17)
21 Caolin Blade (38)
22 Steve Crosbie (0)
23 Rory Parata (25)

Mark Mostyn wrote: In relations to our problems in attack, I don't know how anyone else feels but I think a big issue is our centres, to be honest apart from Ronaldson and Aki I don't think we've found any centre partnerships that have worked particularly well

We've certainly had no consistency in our centre selection due to injury this season. We've struggled with getting the ball to the wings and when we do it's mostly been rubbish ball.

In 15/16 we used 5 centre combinations in 24 Pro 12 games. In 13 games this term we've used 8 different combos, and given Ili's knock and Farrell's cameo last time out, I'd be betting on no. 9 to be rolled out this week. No combo has been used for more than 2 matches in a row this season (unless you count Aki/Griffin in the first three matches, and even then they switched to Griffin at 12 and Aki at 13 for the last of those).

Last season Ronaldson and Aki played together for 11 of 13 matches in the middle of the year, Aki & Parata and Robb & Aki combinations played together for 4 consecutive matches either side of that run, and Aki & Henshaw played together for the last three games.

pinky wrote: Here's the opposition take on it ...
www.dragonssupportersclub.com/news/2017/...ion-preview-connacht

In relations to our problems in attack, I don't know how anyone else feels but I think a big issue is our centres, to be honest apart from Ronaldson and Aki I don't think we've found any centre partnerships that have worked particularly well

Here's the opposition take on it ...
www.dragonssupportersclub.com/news/2017/...ion-preview-connacht

But we had half of an international guy, we'll have the 3 of them
No Hewitt for NGD at Connacht this Saturday. Good

connachta wrote: Lightest and best squad update EVER!

www.connachtrugby.ie/squad-update-ahead-...-game-7#ConnachtNews

Don't think there was any changes on the staus from the Cardiff game, just the addition of Illi to the list.

Good that the Int's are available, likes of Marmion/ Dillane need more than 10/15min runouts to keep sharp...

Connacht Rugby wrote:
Conor Carey (foot) is continuing his recovery from his foot injury and will return to play in mid-March.

Ivan Soroka (knee) is progressing well following minor knee surgery and is due for a return in early March.

Andrew Browne (ankle) is continuing his rehabilitation from ankle surgery and will return to play in the next few weeks.

Marnitz Boshoff (shoulder) is progressing well in his rehabilitation and will return to play in mid-March.

Both Bundee Aki (ankle) and Eoin Griffin (chest) are continuing their rehabilitation and are due to return to play in the next few weeks.

Cian Kelleher (hamstring) is progressing well and is due to return in the coming weeks.

Josh Rowland (knee) is undergoing rehabilitation under the supervision of the medical and fitness team and will return to play in mid-March.

Darragh Leader (hand) is progressing well and due to return in March.

Not far away from you on this.

phatguerilla wrote:

clanman wrote: The problem with Niyi is he needs space and this year we'recommend not stretching defences enough time give him that space, you could suggest in general he has been poor but that turnover against wasps was outstanding and should not be forgotten

Agreed, and personally I think a lot of players are running into difficulties/narrow channels then giving the ball to Niyi to make something of it, the ratio of genuine opportunities he's provided versus crappy/panicked pass would be difficult for any winger to deal with imo.

hmmm. not convinced. think cian might own that wing. Its an opinion

We've beaten Dragons at home since forever but they've often been tight games. Dragons though look like they've hit the wall in their season and their away record of late is dreadful whereas for the first time since about October we look like we're getting a cohesive team together and we're coming off the back of a big result in Cardiff. The defeat over there was a big blow in our season so that should rule out any complacency. If we're tuned in this should be a win and hopefully a 5 pointer. If we can get a good start I don't know how much resistance Dragons will offer. We really need to start getting into games earlier. Its a bad habit from the past thats seeped back in this season.

If last Sunday was a turning point for us to finish the season strongly we need to back it up with a strong performance and result here.

clanman wrote: The problem with Niyi is he needs space and this year we'recommend not stretching defences enough time give him that space, you could suggest in general he has been poor but that turnover against wasps was outstanding and should not be forgotten

Agreed, and personally I think a lot of players are running into difficulties/narrow channels then giving the ball to Niyi to make something of it, the ratio of genuine opportunities he's provided versus crappy/panicked pass would be difficult for any winger to deal with imo.

So with TOH in, Ili out (not sure but no reason to risk him) I'd expect :


15 TOH
14 Niyi
13 Farrell
12 Ronaldson
11 Healy

22 Robb/Parata
23 Poolman