Wonder if the team might look something like this?

Scholes, Kelleher, Aki, Ronaldson, Healy, Carty, Marmion, Buckley, McCartney, Bealham, Dillane, Cannon, Butler, Heenan, and Muldoon.

Kick-off 7.35pm:
(15-9) Darragh Leader, Cian Kelleher, Eoin Griffin, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion, (1- Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, James Cannon, Eoghan Masterson, Jarrad Butler, John Muldoon
Replacements (16-23): Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, Sean O’Brien, Eoin McKeon, Conor McKeon, Craig Ronaldson, Tom Farrell.

Can't agree more, 1 PM can't come quick enough
Plus that's the 1st time in 2 years we have a pretty much full squad to pick in! (except TOH/Niyi)

Happy Squad Announcement Day.
I'm very excited. I've missed my rugby

www.the42.ie/connacht-glasgow-dave-renni...ane-3571211-Aug2017/

Connacht v Glasgow Warriors
Ben Whitehouse (WRU)


good

The chance of having a stable scrum moved from none to 50%.

Buckley hasn't played 1 single minute of friendies, but if he's part of full training since last week, you'd hope...

Connacht squad update

"Connacht face Glasgow Warriors in the opening round of the restructured Guinness PRO14 Championship on Saturday at 7.35pm. Ahead of the game, a number of players have returned to team training having recovered from respective injuries. Denis Buckley (finger), Quinn Roux (ankle), Jake Heenan (back), Tom Farrell (thigh) and Peter Robb (head) have returned in the past week.
Meanwhile, Naulia Dawai sustained a minor hamstring injury in training last week and is currently rehabilitating under the supervision of the medical and fitness teams. Scrum half Caolin Blade has stepped up his rehabilitation this week following his hamstring injury in the pre-season friendly against Munster.
Niyi Adeolokun, who underwent knee surgery at the end of last season will return to partial team training towards the end of September/early October. Tiernan O’Halloran is still recovering from knee surgery in the off season and will return to team training in the coming weeks."

Have you forgotten about James Cannon? He had a very solid performance on Saturday and I would definitely have him in there to add some bulk and is also experienced at the lineout calls.

Unless one of them has vastly improved at calling the lineout Dillane and Roux can't start together. Ultan is very rusty and should be eased back in on the bench initially imo.

I would like Roux involved too and I think he would be a very useful player as our power in the tight five doesn't appear to be as strong as it could ( the potential of course is there but players appear to be rusty). I think Browne will start for sure and its a case of Dillane or Roux, Dillane on form is easily the best SR at our disposal and a certain starter but atm like many he appears to be rusty (understandably so but needs maybe an appearance or 2 off the bench).

I had a big brain fart and completely forgot about Ili, I think its a coin toss between him and Kelleher for the 23 shirt as imo 11-15 is set in stone pretty much atm.

Cathalsmart wrote: Any ideas on the team lads? I'll get the ball rollong anyway

Based on pre season and my own view I think it will be

1 Denis Buckley (if fit)
2 Tom McCartney
3 Finlay Bealham
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Andrew Browne
6 Eoghan Masterson
7 Jarrad Butler
8 John Muldoon
9 Kieran Marmion
10 Jack Carty
11 Matt Healy
12 Craig Ronaldson
13 Bundee Aki
14 Rory Scholes
15 Darragh Leader

16 Dave Heffernan 17 Peter McCabe 18 Conor Carey 19 James Cannon 20 Eoin McKeon 21 James Mitchell
22 Steve Crosbie 23 Cian Kelleher

Yeah that's 99% of who I've chosen in my initial post
Just Roux instead of Browne (won't happen, but still think it should)
And Ili a toss-up with Kelleher for n°23 maybe, depends on who's the "less weak" defender...

Peronsally I'd have SOB and Roux in aswell as I think Dillane is still a little rusty and could do with a few sub appearance's before starting a game this season & SOB is just a cracking player but SOB has yet to play in pre season baring a sub appearance off the bench so Id be doubtful of him starting this week and Roux I don't think will be played down to orders from the IRFU, personally id have both in the XV but realistically I'd have doubts.

I'd say you pretty much have it except maybe Quinn Roux in at 4 and SOB at 6.

Any ideas on the team lads? I'll get the ball rollong anyway

Based on pre season and my own view I think it will be

1 Denis Buckley (if fit)
2 Tom McCartney
3 Finlay Bealham
4 Ultan Dillane
5 Andrew Browne
6 Eoghan Masterson
7 Jarrad Butler
8 John Muldoon
9 Kieran Marmion
10 Jack Carty
11 Matt Healy
12 Craig Ronaldson
13 Bundee Aki
14 Rory Scholes
15 Darragh Leader

16 Dave Heffernan 17 Peter McCabe 18 Conor Carey 19 James Cannon 20 Eoin McKeon 21 James Mitchell
22 Steve Crosbie 23 Cian Kelleher

Glasgow will be other beasts than Bristol were.
Those friendlies one week before opening game got us proper indications of what the team vertebral bone will be,
but we have to take a few risk if we wanna win IMO

1) McCabe (if not Denis)
2) McCartney
3) Bealham
4) Roux
5) Dillane
Keep going with a Masterson/Butler/Muldoon backrow

powerful pack!

Marmion/Carty seem fit pairing for now

take the risk of a Ronalson/Aki combo, rush the latter fully back a wee bit, could be vital

bet on an in-form back-3 Scholes/Healy/Leader

have absolutely Buckley at least on the bench to close out a tight game

use Ili as the most versatile back for 23