Agree with all of that SeaPoint. A very efficient performance. The starting front five fronted up all day and looked fit and strong. Hugely disappointing for Thornbury to come off injured and hopefully it's not as serious as it looked. Dillane has surely played himself into the 23 (if not into the starting team itself) for the Italy game and both Heffernan and Bealham will have done their chances no harm yesterday too. Heff was the best of any of the hookers on display over the weekend and will surely see time in the Irish jersey before Christmas. Back row were efficient in everything they did, and I wonder might Farrell think of including Jarrad this Autumn. Only Leavy I think has a higher ceiling than him at 7. Marmion played extremely well and Carty's game management and that basketball pass for Porch's try were top class. Bundee was Bundee. Nothing more to be said, and Tom Farrell is surely now putting it up to his Munster namesake for a place in the Irish squad. The back three were a revelation with Wootton looking very sharp and Sullivan coming into the game well in the second half. Porch I thought was superb. Excellent in the air. Fast and Elusive.
Finally I think we can take Munster next week too. Guys like TOH, Blade, Robb, Arnold, Tom Daly, Oliver, Conor Fitzgerald, Healy, Roux, and McAllister should play with Bundee, Marmion, Carty, and Dillane on the bench.

Betty Swallocks wrote: We're down to the bare bones in the back three. No sign of TOH which must mean he's injured alongside O'Donnell, Healy, and S Fitzgerald. Worrying, but thank god for Tom Daly's versatility. Wonder if Delahunt and C Fitzgerald are injured or just rotated/rested?

From Andy Friends comments yesterday, whole lot of rotation for the Munster game, so lads that didn't participate at all yesterday will be involved (if fit) and the bench guys will be getting starts.

As for the actual match yesterday....

Porch was almost everything I hoped he'd be a fullback. Hoped he'd see a bit more space to run into, but his contribution for Marmo's try was absolutely top drawer, from the catch and placement to getting himself into position two phases later for the break up the left wing that led to the delicious grubber that sat up perfectly for the supporting Marmo.


Joyous rugby....

Lot's of positives, Gav was a nuisance for the Ulster lineout, Murray has clearly beefed up (was essential he did) during the lockdown. Bundee back to Beast Bundeee, Tom F purring along like a Connacht version of Yannick Jauzion. Marmo back to his efficient best. Solid pack performance, units worked well.

The newly constructed back three was the most impressive takeaway from yesterday for me though...

Finally not a fan of former players reffing our games, felt Murphy was trying too hard to be seen to be neutral and ultimately just didn't give us some obvious decisions as a result..

The Clan sponsor gets a plug from Johnny Watterson:
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/dan-mcfar...kicking-on-1.4337064
I'm not sure they'll be particularly happy at being a metaphor for death (or something) but what can you do ...

pinky wrote: Last night's game was on Radio 1. I tuned in for a bit since the eir Sport subscription I paid for doesn't actually work and they are not big fans of the idea of customer support. Eventually I decided to go out for some fresh air and watch it on TG4 later.

I don't think I have ever gotten their service to work on a computer or streaming to a tv. Sure, I could watch the game in glorious 440p on my their phone app where it buffers ever 15 seconds, but I'm a purist at heart.

Nice win. We're sixth overall on points (ignoring all this conference silliness), clear of Glasgow and Treviso, so we can lay claim to have qualified for the Champions Cup on merit (or something).

Last night's game was on Radio 1. I tuned in for a bit since the eir Sport subscription I paid for doesn't actually work and they are not big fans of the idea of customer support. Eventually I decided to go out for some fresh air and watch it on TG4 later.

Tall Paul wrote: Robb Murphy said on craggy island this is his first game he has missed on home soil since 2002. So I'm guessing it's not.
Also Munster Game last night was not on the radio. I looked on newstalk and RTÉ

RTE radio 1 say they have today's match.

1885 fanzone.

Is this showing the match or is it just a meeting room with interviews etc?

Robb Murphy said on craggy island this is his first game he has missed on home soil since 2002. So I'm guessing it's not.
Also Munster Game last night was not on the radio. I looked on newstalk and RTÉ

Hello all, is this being broadcast on GBFM?

Clearly Craig Casey could sense the danger of the late surge from Connacht so he satisfied himself with a LBP to snuff out the threat.
I can't believe we haven't even played our first pre-season game and the title challenge has evaporated

pinky wrote: For the incurable optimists out there, don't forget that Connacht can still win the Pro14. All we need is to pick up ten points, restrict Munster to zero, hope Scarlets don't get more than eight, oh and overturn a points difference deficit of 163.
After that it is a simple matter of beating Leinster to take our place in a final where, following the preceding heroics, we would assuredly start as favourites over Edinburgh.
On a good day we can beat Ulster and Munster by 30 each, leaving us needing Leinster to beat Munster by 74 tomorrow. It would be an unprecedented scoreline, but hey, these are unprecedented times.

#TheNewNormal

For the incurable optimists out there, don't forget that Connacht can still win the Pro14. All we need is to pick up ten points, restrict Munster to zero, hope Scarlets don't get more than eight, oh and overturn a points difference deficit of 163.
After that it is a simple matter of beating Leinster to take our place in a final where, following the preceding heroics, we would assuredly start as favourites over Edinburgh.
On a good day we can beat Ulster and Munster by 30 each, leaving us needing Leinster to beat Munster by 74 tomorrow. It would be an unprecedented scoreline, but hey, these are unprecedented times.

We're down to the bare bones in the back three. No sign of TOH which must mean he's injured alongside O'Donnell, Healy, and S Fitzgerald. Worrying, but thank god for Tom Daly's versatility. Wonder if Delahunt and C Fitzgerald are injured or just rotated/rested?

Decent looking starting XV, particularly like the notion of Porchy at 15. Lad is absolutely rapid and we could see some Christian Cullen type running (the NZ version, not Munster) from him if we get some decent ball. If the pack are competitive and can create a platform, we can create all sorts of problems with that back three....

Hopefully no pack injuries, because we are lightweight in every sense on the bench..
Ulster have gone as strong as they can currently with their Starting XV,and the bench is Serious.....

Connacht Rugby wrote: CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS ULSTER RUGBY
16:30, Sunday 23rd August @ Aviva Stadium

15. John Porch
14. Peter Sullivan
13. Tom Farrell
12. Bundee Aki
11. Alex Wootton
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Gavin Thornbury
6. Eoghan Masterson
7. Jarrad Butler (c)
8. Paul Boyle

16. Jonny Murphy
17. Jordan Duggan
18. Jack Aungier
19. Niall Murray
20. Conor Oliver
21. Stephen Kerins
22. Conor Dean
23. Tom Daly

Ulster Rugby wrote: Ulster team to play Connacht, Guinness PRO14 Round 14, Sunday 23 August at Aviva Stadium (kick-off 4.30pm, live on Premier Sports & TG4):

(15-9) Jacob Stockdale, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns (Capt.), John Cooney;

(1- Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, Jordi Murphy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Sam Carter, Matthew Rea, Alby Mathewson, Ian Madigan, Michael Lowry.

+1. I'm expecting two wins from two. We're better than Ulster IMHO, and Munster will be out of contention to top our conference after this weekend's games when they lose to Leinster and Edinburgh beat Glasgow. They'll therefore be in rotation mode for our game against them the following weekend. Don't forget the motivation too for Bundee, Carty, Blade, Marmion, Heffernan, Bealham, Dillane, Roux, and Thornbury to get selected for the national squad. We have two games only to impress.