I like the look of that backline. I liked that article with Billy Millard a few weeks back. I hope he is being let at the backs. Everyone in Gaway knows Eric likes to be boss!

I think our backs have potential. And we are a few players away from being a nice team. Thoseplayers just happen to be the absolute key positions n the pitch, TH and half backs.

theCulk wrote: Where's the hype around the town for this game by the way? It might not be Toulouse, but christ it's our <strong>2nd ever</strong> Heineken Cup game. We should be hyping this up to the balls!! What's our clan PRO doing? I know the branch should be hyping it too, but there's zero buzz about the place. :S

I know losing 8 in a row is going to put a damper on things, but this is really someone's job at the branch. In reality this is the match where the most support as possible should be drum up, this is Connacht's best chance at a win. What could be a bigger occasion than their first win in the Heineken Cup?

Id go with

1. Wilkinson

2. Redneck

3. Rogers

4. George

5. Macca

6. Grace

7. Mul

8. Ray

9. POD

10. Jarvis

11. Vianokolo

12. McSharry

13. Tonetti

14. O,Halloran

15. Gav

I wouldnt have touhy on the bench or anderson.

That's a big blow! Who will start in the centre... I suppose Tonetti. Talk about in at the deep end !

"On the field Connacht will be without lock Michael Swift who suffered knee ligament damage during Connacht's 13 - 15 loss to Treviso at the weekend, and Eoin Griffin, who has not fully recovered from a hamstring."

From the galway advertiser www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/47324/c...eineken-cup-campaign

No Gricco, it goes on to say no changes are expected in the back line.

just after the toulouse game i said to many that i HOPED that they would do all this for the other two heineken cup games and the 3 inter pro as it looked good and made everyone excited BUT i said also that i doubt they wouldn't even bother.

the branch asked us to buy a season ticket which was great value but i dont think they are looking after us as much as they should and many people would back me up on this.

Where's the hype around the town for this game by the way? It might not be Toulouse, but christ it's our 2nd ever Heineken Cup game. We should be hyping this up to the balls!! What's our clan PRO doing? I know the branch should be hyping it too, but there's zero buzz about the place. :S

This is the team I hope plays this weekend.


1. wilko
2. reynecke (I think he always looks to drive forward and get his hands on the ball)
3. rodgers
4. McCarthy
5. Gannon
6. muldoon
7. Grace
8. ofisa
9. Murphy (I think he can put a lot more pressure on the other scrumhalf)
10.nikora
11.tuohy
12.mcsharry
13.griffen
14.o halloran
15.duffy

I have to say that there are a couple of things that have been encouraged with this season if not the results. Gannon I think has shown he has a lot to offer us in the 2nd row and McSharry looks to have that spark. Also TOH and Griffen seem to be coming along nicely. My main annoyance this season has been the 9/10 pairing. The lack of consistency here is hurting us alot.
Lets hope its different this weekend.

I would go:
1) Wilko
2) Reynecke
3) Rodgers
4) Macca
5) Gannon
6) Mul
7) Grace (If Johnny not back)
Ray / George
9) O'Donohue
10) Jarvis
11) Tiernan
12) Mac Sharry
13) griffin
14) Tonetti
15) Gav


Few reasons for this.

Flav is as solid a hooker as anybody could ask for. He is just not spectacular. If the lineout is in trouble he is the man to come from the bench to steady the ship.

Rodgers has shown serious passion and changed a few scrums when he has come on already this year

Grace - Anybody else see his twitter where he said he was playing for Buccs to try prove a point AGAIN? This kid wants it and in front of a packed sportsground could do it

Ray - I think has been playing very well this season. George dropped to bench could be a kick up the behind he needs

Scrum half - Difficult to call. Feel O'Donohue has done very little, as has Frank. Both players have plaed better when brought from the bench. If eric starts Nikora i would start Murphy. If he starts Jarvis I would do so with O'Donoue

Jarvis - Give the guy a go! Cant go much worse then it has been

Tonetti - I think he has potential. Its becoming an established centre partnership. He would have known Gloucester from his time in Sale and should not be intimidated by them especially with the way they travel.

16) rodney - The sight of him coming on with 20 to go would worry opposition
17) Flav - For the reason as mentioned above
18) Loughney
19) Kearney
20) TJ Anderson - always hungry
21) Murphy - Has the experience, needs to show it
22) Nikora - always done better from the bench
23) Vanikolo - Has to do something eventually

how are ticket sales going. will we have similar crowd to toulouse?

this is my team
1. wilko
2. reynecke(showed good form v treviso)
3. rodgers( better scrummager than rodney)
4. macca
5. gannon 9deserves start anyway)
6. muldoon
7. Grace
8. ofisa( george for last 20)
9. donohue(like to see him more forward orientated)
10.nikora(must keep score board ticking over wit 3 ptrs)
11.tuohy(most honest pro we have)
12.mcsharry
13.griffen
14.o halloran
15.duffy

With a solid scrum, more pick and goes, mauls and box kicks, better kicking game at 10, more dg attempts, higher pen conv rate and less defensive lapses we can win this

Am I asking for too much?

:evil: Just heard Matt Williams on off the ball,was saying that there are several players (nagle, even carr etc) he can name that are "excellent" players but aren't being let go to here and aren't getting games due to "politics" and it is "disgraceful" how the IRFU have treated us, any chance of organising a concerted effort for fairness!

He's on the books so let's give him a fair crack. Connacht are not blessed with options. Tuohy's had more than enough chances to make his case now I'd like to see McCrea and Vainikolo given theirs beyond a start here and there. Start one or the other it doesn't make much difference to me, but if Connacht are going to start the process of deciding who should be around next season let's make sure they've had a run of two or three starts to judge them by.

I dont understand some posters fascination with Mark McCrea.

Ulster let him go, after using him very little. There was talk he was fond of the social scene. We have not been picking him for some reason. It seems difficult that two seperate sets focoaches would not feel he warrants starting place yet some posters do.

The few tims we have he has done little. Saw him against Leinster in the RDS and thought he was poor. By all accounts he was made a show of for a Treviso try.

Would love to find anothe Carr n the wing but dont feel he is the answer. Dont feel Tuohy is either. Dont think either of them have done enough to warrant a start this week.

Thats my two cent though and feel free to differ

if we want or backs to score anything then we need some kind off fast ball. murphy is even slower than slow plus pod can attack and is good defending

No word on JOC then? Last I heard he was hoping to be back for at least the second Gloucester game. Anyone hear anything on twitter or from himself?

From listening to the Treviso game it sounded like Gannon was up for the work in the backrow. Still don't know if I'm sold on the flipped line-up Eric sent out, but it wasn't a total disaster and was not the cause of the loss IMO. So George partnering with Macca might be an option.

Wilkinson
Flavin
Rogers
Gannon
McCarthy
Muldoon
Ofisa
Naoupu
Murphy
Jarvis
O'Halloran
McSharry
Griffin
McCrea
Duffy

Reynecke
Loughney
Ah You
Kearney
Anderson
O'Donohoe
Nikora
Vainikolo

Griffin and fellow midfield tyro David McSharry have signed two-year contract extensions this week.

This makes me happy!