I agree that our handling in Athlone was superb. Great to see that Joe Schmidt was there also. I think that Andy Friends' experience as a Sevens Couch is invluable to us this season. Cannot wait to see how good they will pass the ball in our opener against Glasgow. Feeling really positive about the season ahead.

Great day yesterday at Dubarry Park they ran a good show.
Points of note imo:
Wasps were poor.
Paul Boyle was excellent some great tackles as wells as breaks down the wing.
Kyle Godwin looks a shrewd signing . Great tackles good hands and is a big unit.
Joe Mk. looks solid if unspectacular.
Conan O’Donnell looks a real option from the bench and I could see him bypassing McCabe .
Tom Farrell was excellent again.

Two further points or handling was excellent and seems to be something they have worked on and they seemed to be hitting the line at speed something that was absent last year.

He played 10 min. But youy should be right

connachta wrote:

swift4prez wrote:

connachta wrote:
I was very close. Maksymiw and Cannon are a right experimental call at the right time, both ex Premiership players, to help them build some confidence. Dillane/Roux will prepare Glasgow game in Bristol
Can't see Kelleher being fast enough /good enough tackler to play 15. Good under high balls, but...
Main point is (rightly IMO) Farrell is kept as 12, and Godwin is the back-up 13 when Bundee is off (50% of the time...)

Sorry but I had to correct you on these two. You predicted 8/15 in the starting game, well done but that’s not ‘very close’.
Also in any time a player is asked who’s the fasted in the Connacht squad, Cian is always said to be the fasted. ToH has said it, Niyi has said it. I don’t think this years recruitment would be any faster so he must be still the quickest in the squad.

Well sorry, did not want to be pretentious. Was a mix between team for Wasps and team for Glasgow, in which I think Dillane Roux and TOH, except injury, will be back. And I'm just happy to have felt Heff would be trusted as 2, and Farrell/Godwin in that order, the best one IMO. I'm just pleased about Friend selection, no self-laudation intended.

About Kelleher I disagree. in real-game situation, I can't remember him outspeeding counter-parts on the past 2 seasons. And vs Brive (1st half) he was forced to kick because he just hasn't won the head-to-head, running from the same line, Brive last defender was caughting him.
But it's ok if I'm proven wrong ASAP

Don't think Roux will be available for the start of the season. He was down under with Ireland

swift4prez wrote:

connachta wrote:
I was very close. Maksymiw and Cannon are a right experimental call at the right time, both ex Premiership players, to help them build some confidence. Dillane/Roux will prepare Glasgow game in Bristol
Can't see Kelleher being fast enough /good enough tackler to play 15. Good under high balls, but...
Main point is (rightly IMO) Farrell is kept as 12, and Godwin is the back-up 13 when Bundee is off (50% of the time...)

Sorry but I had to correct you on these two. You predicted 8/15 in the starting game, well done but that’s not ‘very close’.
Also in any time a player is asked who’s the fasted in the Connacht squad, Cian is always said to be the fasted. ToH has said it, Niyi has said it. I don’t think this years recruitment would be any faster so he must be still the quickest in the squad.

Well sorry, did not want to be pretentious. Was a mix between team for Wasps and team for Glasgow, in which I think Dillane Roux and TOH, except injury, will be back. And I'm just happy to have felt Heff would be trusted as 2, and Farrell/Godwin in that order, the best one IMO. I'm just pleased about Friend selection, no self-laudation intended.

About Kelleher I disagree. in real-game situation, I can't remember him outspeeding counter-parts on the past 2 seasons. And vs Brive (1st half) he was forced to kick because he just hasn't won the head-to-head, running from the same line, Brive last defender was caughting him.
But it's ok if I'm proven wrong ASAP

connachta wrote:
I was very close. Maksymiw and Cannon are a right experimental call at the right time, both ex Premiership players, to help them build some confidence. Dillane/Roux will prepare Glasgow game in Bristol
Can't see Kelleher being fast enough /good enough tackler to play 15. Good under high balls, but...
Main point is (rightly IMO) Farrell is kept as 12, and Godwin is the back-up 13 when Bundee is off (50% of the time...)

Sorry but I had to correct you on these two. You predicted 8/15 in the starting game, well done but that’s not ‘very close’.
Also in any time a player is asked who’s the fasted in the Connacht squad, Cian is always said to be the fasted. ToH has said it, Niyi has said it. I don’t think this years recruitment would be any faster so he must be still the quickest in the squad.

connachta wrote: With what I saw in Pompadour, and the injury update, I think the squad for Wasps (and, fingers crossed, if no more injury, Glasgow opener), should be :

1) Buckley
2) Heffernan
3) Bealham
4) Dillane
5) Roux
6) Butler
7) Fainga'a
8 ) McKeon
9) McKeon, cousin
10) Carty
12) Farrell
13) Godwin
11) Healy
14) Kelleher
15) TOH

16) Delahunt
17) O'Donnell
18) Carey
19) Gallagher or Cannon
20) Connolly or Boyle
21) Blade or Mitchell
22) Horwitz or Ronaldson
23) Niyi

I was very close. Maksymiw and Cannon are a right experimental call at the right time, both ex Premiership players, to help them build some confidence. Dillane/Roux will prepare Glasgow game in Bristol
Can't see Kelleher being fast enough/good enough tackler to play 15. Good under high balls, but...
Main point is (rightly IMO) Farrell is kept as 12, and Godwin is the back-up 13 when Bundee is off (50% of the time...)

www.the42.ie/masterson-injury-connacht-t...sps-4184972-Aug2018/
15. Cian Kelleher
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Kyle Godwin
12. Tom Farrell
11. Matt Haly.
10. Jack Carty
9. Caolin Blade

1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Joe Maksymiw
5. James Cannon
6. Paul Boyle
7. Jarrad Butler
8. Eoin McKeon

Replacements

Conan O’Donnell
Shane Delahunt
Conor Carey
Cillian Gallagher
Sean O’Brien
James Connolly
James Mitchell
Craig Ronaldson
Colm de Buitlear
Rory Scholes
Eoin Griffin
Darragh Leader

Wasps FC wrote: Director of rugby David Young hands Wasps debuts to six new signings when his club gets its 2018/19 campaign underway with a friendly against Pro-14 outfit Connacht at Dubarry Park on Saturday.

New Zealand Maoris winger Ambrose Curtis, powerful centre Michael Le Bourgeois and fly half Billy Searle all claim places in an exciting backline.

Meanwhile, England Saxons lock Charlie Matthews plus back-rowers Joe Atkinson and Ben Morris wear black-and-gold for the first time in the pack.

And this number could increase to nine should England international prop Kieran Brookes, former London Scottish centre Ross Neal or England Sevens product Callum Sirker make their Wasps bows from a 12-strong bench.

Rob Miller and Marcus Watson join Curtis in a pacy back three while Juan De Jongh partners Le Bourgeois in midfield and Joe Simpson teams up with Searle at half-back.

Exciting prospects Tom West and Will Stuart partner England international Tommy Taylor in the front row, with Will Rowlands and Ashley Johnson, who captains the side, completing the forward pack.

David Young said:

“After a good pre-season we are all looking forward to getting back in action against Connacht on Saturday.

“We have seen plenty of them in the last few years and are expecting a really good work out.

“Our line-up for this first game does not include any England summer tourists or our more recent new arrivals. We hope to involve some of them against Ulster at the Ricoh next Friday evening.

“These games are good preparation for the opening round of the Gallagher Premiership at Worcester, and I have no doubt all the players will be keen to impress.”

connachta wrote: Ouch there're not coming in Athlone for fun, even though their international guys + Saffers aren't involved

15. Rob Miller

14. Ambrose Curtis

13. Juan De Jongh

12. Michael Le Bourgeois

11. Marcus Watson

10. Billy Searle

9. Joe Simpson

1. Tom West

2. Tommy Taylor

3. Will Stuart

4. Will Rowlands

5. Charlie Matthews

6. Ashley Johnson (c)

7. Joe Atkinson

8. Ben Morris



Replacements:

16. Tom Cruse

17. Ben Harris

18. Kieran Brookes

19. Tim Cardall

20. Tom Willis

21. Will Porter

22. Jimmy Gopperth

23. Gaby Lovobalavu

24. Ross Neal

25. Josh Bassett

26. Callum Sirker

27. Kearnan Myall

Ouch there're not coming in Athlone for fun, even though their international guys + Saffers aren't involved

15. Rob Miller

14. Ambrose Curtis

13. Juan De Jongh

12. Michael Le Bourgeois

11. Marcus Watson

10. Billy Searle

9. Joe Simpson

1. Tom West

2. Tommy Taylor

3. Will Stuart

4. Will Rowlands

5. Charlie Matthews

6. Ashley Johnson (c)

7. Joe Atkinson

8. Ben Morris



Replacements:

16. Tom Cruse

17. Ben Harris

18. Kieran Brookes

19. Tim Cardall

20. Tom Willis

21. Will Porter

22. Jimmy Gopperth

23. Gaby Lovobalavu

24. Ross Neal

25. Josh Bassett

26. Callum Sirker

27. Kearnan Myall

With what I saw in Pompadour, and the injury update, I think the squad for Wasps (and, fingers crossed, if no more injury, Glasgow opener), should be :

1) Buckley
2) Heffernan
3) Bealham
4) Dillane
5) Roux
6) Butler
7) Fainga'a
8 ) McKeon
9) McKeon, cousin
10) Carty
12) Farrell
13) Godwin
11) Healy
14) Kelleher
15) TOH

16) Delahunt
17) O'Donnell
18) Carey
19) Gallagher or Cannon
20) Connolly or Boyle
21) Blade or Mitchell
22) Horwitz or Ronaldson
23) Niyi

So now, the report of our 1st game of the season


the bad :

the scrum, utterly dominated especially in the 1st half with McCabe/Carey who're supposed to be our 2nd choice pairing playing most of our games from the bench, sometimes more..

the 1st 10 min, 14-0 for Brive, I guess it's logic to be caught cold, but we all know Connacht have to manage better those "low moments"


the good :

handling error rate, very low for a 1st game

defence : very involved, physical impact and pressure, offensive and defensive rucking ok. We conceeded tries out wide or very close to the ruck, but not "soft tries and line-breaks" in midfield


the standout guys in my point of view

1) Kieran Joyce, I spent most of the game trying to figure out who this n°22 was. Came in from min 20 to 70 (sadly concussed on a brave tackle). Was absolutely outstanding. We WILL see him again soon (after GRTP). I'm not more worried about Bundee missing games anymore. Joyce has a complete-profile, sharp n°13

2) Farrell, nothing more than he used to do in the past. Just constantly very good

3) O'Donnell, suffocating but holding on the LH side of the scrum, counter-rucking, dynamic and friendlly small prop!


Others

- Horwitz played 10, he has the 10 body profile, and he did ok. There won't be any discussion IMO. The recruitement is Horwitz 10 Godwin 12 (the latter was there but played only few minutes in the end btw), except severe injury crisis
- Carty converting touchline conversions and a great touch in the corner, good for confidence
- Btw, Lam exit strategy is def over. Classic 9/10 pass and kick to go out of our 22. Only 1 crazy Lamish ball spreaded from our line. Good for heart-attacks
- Boyle And Connolly look very sharp, will feel harsh to be blocked by Butler/Fainga'a for gametime as openside flankers
- Masterson/Butler jumped in the lineout in addition to the 2nd rows, only one lost on our own-throws, 2 or 3 stolen on theirs
- Gallegher is a monster, we have plenty in back-row, he should be kept as n°5 IMO
- Roux may be rated by Joe for his "unseen" work, which include stabilizing the scrum. Hope he will help

Just back yesterday evening from holidays in the middle of France

RonanL wrote: So was the captaincy ever confirmed? I thought they were unveiling him as part of the jersey launch but I haven't seen anything.

Just saw on the squad thread it is being announced at a separate event. As you were.

So was the captaincy ever confirmed? I thought they were unveiling him as part of the jersey launch but I haven't seen anything.

sea_point wrote: Very, very brief highlights of the Friendly against Brive...

Nice touch bringing over a Connemara pony for the kickoff. He probably had to fork out for 2 seats on the plane on the way over, but legroom probably wasn't an issue.