This will be going on Cian's highlights reel.

www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/connacht-winger-c...umping-tackle-186026

What a tackle!!!

Godwin is a very intelligent runner and always seems to find space, or has the presence/calmness of mind to wait for it to open up in front of him instead of just carrying into contact.

Carty and Kelleher overall stepped-up this season. McCabe was good today
Still worried we didn't really win the contact areas, Fainga'a/Butler are good but light back-rowers. Would welcome both Copeland and Boyle to start next week.

Godwin should be praised too. Nothing spectacular but really reliable even under pressure.

Very impressed with the performance today, especially at the breakdown, the Kings really struggled here. I thought Balde did very well, he seems to have come on quite a lot this season.

Also look at this:
www.pro14rugby.org/statistics/best-guinn...4-kickers-2017-2018/

Well done Jack, well done lad.

The pack is pretty heavy and "slow" so I think it's a really good choice to inject pace with Colby

Agreed Connachta, but must admit I'm surprised Robin Copeland isn't featuring although I would imagine he'll get a run against the Cheetahs.

Team's out and that's a pretty good one
Only 2 "surprises" I like a lot : Fainga'a and Delahunt to start

salmson wrote: Marmion has been released back to Connacht. No detail on whether he's injured or just not needed for the USA game.

Squad definitely out there....

Backs: Blade, Carty, Horwitz, Godwin, Farrell, Adeolokun, O'Halloran, Kelleher, Healy, Leader, Mitchell.

Forwards: Buckley, Thornbury, Butler, McCartney, Delahunt, Copeland, Boyle, O'Brien, McCabe.

So I'm missing one or two backs and a raft of forwards, Feel free to add/correct.

Edit: Bazzo edits in italics. Guessing that the rest of the squad is Carey, O'Donnell, Robertson-McCoy, Cannon & Dillane, as that gives us an extra front row and means we can field a full bench even if one of them goes down.

Fainga'a's there!

So, according to training pics we should have smth like (only uncertainties are who're on the bench compared to reserves)

Buckley
McCartney
Carey
Thornbury
Dillane
SOB
Butler
Boyle

Blade
Carty
Farrell
Godwin
Healy
Kelleher
O'Halloran

Delahunt
McCabe
McCoy
(prob Cannon but doesn't appear)
Fainga'a
Mitchell
Horwitz
Leader

Reserves :
Copeland
Adeolokun

To come over before Cheetahs :
Bealham?
Roux (unlikely)

Leader, Mitchell, McCabe, O'Brien all travelled.

Marmion has been released back to Connacht. No detail on whether he's injured or just not needed for the USA game.

Squad definitely out there....

Backs: Blade, Carty, Horwitz, Godwin, Farrell, Adeolokun, O'Halloran, Kelleher, Healy, Leader, Mitchell.

Forwards: Buckley, Thornbury, Butler, McCartney, Delahunt, Copeland, Boyle, O'Brien, McCabe.

So I'm missing one or two backs and a raft of forwards, Feel free to add/correct.

Edit: Bazzo edits in italics. Guessing that the rest of the squad is Carey, O'Donnell, Robertson-McCoy, Cannon & Dillane, as that gives us an extra front row and means we can field a full bench even if one of them goes down.

sligsup wrote:

Betty Swallocks wrote: Has it been published anywhere what squad has travelled down to South Africa?

A squad of 25 travelled i'm sure we could take a reasonable guess, what did surprise me is Gavin Thornbury travelling. Is he back ahead of schedule or is he just therefor the Jolly.

With just the absolute minimum 25 in the squad (matchday 23 plus covering back and forward for any injury in the warmup) he certainly isn't there for the jolly. Was training fully ahead of Dragons so he should be good to go.

Squad is very light at 25 - Leinster and Munster each took 27 for one game, Ulster brought 30 for two - so I wouldn't be surprised if more join them ahead of Cheetahs.

Betty Swallocks wrote: Has it been published anywhere what squad has travelled down to South Africa?

A squad of 25 travelled i'm sure we could take a reasonable guess, what did surprise me is Gavin Thornbury travelling. Is he back ahead of schedule or is he just therefor the Jolly.