Raining here, I would expect it to go ahead.

Here in Sligo there's quite a bit of snow this morning, what's it like in Galway, any chance the game may be cancelled.

Pau go and secure a bonus point win away to Gloucester. Looking like one of our bogey teams at home in the qf provided we do the business tomorrow. Cardiff or Gloucester.

No chance of a potential home semi now which is disappointing.

well i went 100 on Matt to score a try on his 100th appearance. Good heavens, Connacht 1/200. I have never seen such odds in my life in a two horse race

PP has us minus 40 in the handicap.

I'm surprised to see us go with such a strong team, obviously no chances are being taken for the bonus point and I suppose with two weeks off coming up why would we risk it. Hopefully Matt can score his record equaling and potentially also score his record breaking try for us on his 100th cap.

Oyonnax announced their 23, players with a star are in the Academy..

Oyonnax Rugby wrote: Voici le XV titulaire pour le déplacement chez le Connacht Rugby, samedi 20 janvier à 15h30, dans le cadre de la 6ème et dernière journée de Challenge Cup.

FWDS: Vartan, MacDonald, Laclayat* – Fabbri, Njewel – Browning, Tauleigne*, Taieb (c) –
BACKS: Hall*, Fuertes* – Giresse, Hansell-Pune, Seuteni, Ikpefan – Muller

Remplaçants : Geledan, Raynaud, Mirtskhulava, Kerry*, Audy, Lima, Veau, Barba

*Membre du centre de formation

All ten available internationals in the starting lineup (we started 9 against Ulster). Suspect that's the most internationals we've ever had in a Connacht team.

Strong team. Obviously the edict from Schmidt is that the Irish squad members play.

Connacht Team ;
(15-9) Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Eoin Griffin, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy, Craig Ronaldson, Kieran Marmion, (1- 8 ) Peter McCabe, Dave Heffernan, Conor Carey, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Eoghan Masterson, Naulia Dawai, John Muldoon (Capt)

Replacements (16-23): Shane Delahunt, Denis Coulson, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Gavin Thornbury, James Connolly, Caolin Blade, Tom Farrell, Cian Kelleher.

Connolly will play yeah, at least on the bench. Dawai/Gallagher to help out.

It's relieving our next "worthy" game is not before the 9 of February.
Buckley/McKeon/SOB might all be back and be huge boosts

We'll that's grim enough reading. All the big injuries seem to have been pushed back about a month in recovery and Butler and Bealham out now too (Guessing that will also rule Bealham out of the 6 nations squad too, have to feel for him as he's been playing much better rugby than Archer or Ryan).

Connolly will get a decent chance to prove himself now I suppose?

Ahead of the finale of Pool 5, our medical team have released the following squad update.



Prop:
Finlay Bealham sustained a knee injury in training last week and will rehabilitate under the supervision of the medical and performance team over the coming weeks.

Denis Buckley is continuing his rehabilitation from recent ankle surgery and will be out of action until February.

JP Cooney is recovering from hamstring surgery and will be out of action until April.



Hooker:
Pat O’Toole is continuing his rehabilitation for his hamstring injury under the supervision of the medical and performance team and will return to action in mid February.



Lock:
James Cannon has reintegrated into full training this week following his shoulder injury versus Munster.

Andrew Browne has had a minor setback in his rehabilitation and is aiming to return to training in February.



Back Row:
James Connolly played for the Eagles last weekend with no ill effects from his recent calf injury.

Jarrad Butler fractured his hand in the game versus Worcester and will be out of action until February.

Eoin McKeon is progressing well in his rehabilitation from a calf injury and will return to team training in early February.

Sean O’Brien is recovering following shoulder surgery and will return to team training in early February.

Jake Heenan is continuing his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery and will be out of action until April.



Outhalf:
Steve Crosbie will be out of action until the end of January with a knee injury.



Centre:
Peter Robb sustained a hamstring injury in training last week and will be out of action for up to a month.



Back Three:
Cian Kelleher played versus Worcester with no ill effects from his recent head injury.

Stacey Ili sustained a head injury whilst playing for the Eagles last weekend and will follow return to play protocols.

Cormac Brennan returned to team training this week following his shoulder injury.