I see we are trying to turn another 2nd row into a jack of all trades. Why not go with lads where they should be, Kearney in the 2nd row, Muldoon back to 6 and George back to 8.

Good to see Kearney starting but definitely think at the moment he is more suited to the 2nd row, would need to bulk up a bit to be an option in the back row.

Eric's faith in NOC is commendable I hope it will prove justified.

The Leinster side isn't the most formidable but still very strong with good mix of youth and experience. They could be vulnerable if we get about them early but won't be holding my breath.

Porterbelly wrote: At least we know one thing, Eric doesn't be on here reading this forum because NOC would be drawing dole at this stage if he did

It's pretty clear EE does not know his arse from his Elbow, pretty well backed up by Fionn Carrs bit in the indo today. Goes along the same lines as what a few ex players said after making similar moves a few years ago. Fed up of the guy at this stage, a blind man saw the difference Jarvis made when he came on last week but it seems NOC can balls up as much as he wants and still get picked, fetu had two mistakes last week and is dropped yet his over all game was excellent. In fact I will go as far as saying Fetu made more tackles last week then Tuohy(sat nav) would make in a season. I know the EE fans will think I am being hard but we have had six years now of him and he has not produced anything but crap tactics, time to move on?

At least we know one thing, Eric doesn't be on here reading this forum because NOC would be drawing dole at this stage if he did

Connacht XV to face Leinster (The Sportsground – Sunday 1st January 17.00)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Brian Tuohy

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Kyle Tonetti

11 Tiernan O’Halloran

10 Niall O’Connor

09 Paul O’Donohoe

01 Brett Wilkinson

02 Adrian Flavin

03 Ronan Loughney

04 George Naoupu

05 Mike McCarthy

06 Mick Kearney

07 Johnny O’connor

08 John Muldoon



16 Ethienne Reynecke

17 Denis Buckley

18 Dylan Rogers

19 Eoin McKeon

20 TJ Anderson

21 Frank Murphy

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 Henry Fa’afili

15: Isa Nacewa
14: David Kearney
13: Eoin O'Malley
12: Brendan Macken
11: Andrew Conway
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss

1: Jack McGrath
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Jamie Hagan
4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN
5: Damian Browne
6: Rhys Ruddock
7: Kevin McLaughlin/Shane Jennings
8: Leo Auva'a

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin
17: Heinke van der Merwe
18: Nathan White
19: Devin Toner
20: Shane Jennings/Jordi Murphy
21: John Cooney
22: Noel Reid/Fionn Carr
23: Luke Fitzgerald

Just saw the line up on the Connacht site. Its a bit odd that they have a advertisement for Leinster Rugby at the bottom of the page...

Just saw the Leinster team. It is getting hard to get up the encouragement to watch this

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Brian Tuohy

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Kyle Tonetti

11 Tiernan O’Halloran

10 Niall O’Connor

09 Paul O’Donohoe

01 Brett Wilkinson

02 Adrian Flavin

03 Ronan Loughney

04 George Naoupu

05 Mike McCarthy

06 Mick Kearney

07 Johnny O’connor

08 John Muldoon



16 Ethienne Reynecke

17 Denis Buckley

18 Dylan Rogers

19 Eoin McKeon

20 TJ Anderson

21 Frank Murphy

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 Henry Fa’afili



Tuohy who we all ready know is not up to the level is back in. We still maintain playing second rows in 6. Flavin who is solid but no more back in (Still have not forgiven him for the missed tackle in Gloucester).

Are they laughing in the face of the supporters at this stage?

I'd say you should be alright to pay at the gate, was over 2000 tickets left not too long ago, maybe send an e-mail or look/post on facebook to be sure.

Hard to know what to make of this one. You'd usually expect a backlash from our boys after the Munster performance but really the quality in the squad is so poor, confidence is so low and our gameplan is so predictable that is almost impossible to see anything in this game for us.

Having said that I'm sure we'll throw the kitchen sink at it early on, need something to break for us early on to give us a chance.

Going by the Galway Advertiser, Vainikolo is unlikely to retain no.14. Desperately want to see a shakeup at 9 and 10. Have read (here I think) that Elwood doesn't want Jarvis to be playing behind a struggling pack. (don't know if true). If thats the case he might as well go on his summer holidays now. Let him learn, every out half has to play behind a poor pack at one stage or other.

We are only a few points behind Ulster but realistically they'll pull clear, our main aim for the rest of the season has to be assessing our options in the squad, seeing who is up to the challenge and settling where we need changes, any more transfer debacles like last summer will spell disaster.

anyone know if you can pay at the gate for this one?

F**k it.

I'm going to be optimistic. We'll beat those fat pr*cks from Dublin. If they start the same team that they did in the RDS, we have the beating of them. Should have won that game, and this losing streak would never of happened.

I expected a huge performace from the lads, a cracking atmosphere, and a high class victory.
It will be a New Year, and a new start.

Come on the Cows, Mooooo

I think Eric is making a mistake not even considering any changes. If by some magic the team pulls off a win against Leinster it will be guaranteed to be a one off performance since a enough key players will have had a good run of games with little rest.

For starters he should give Jarvis a start. Not ideal to throw him in against the European champs, but O'Connor's performance against Munster really dictates that a change be made at 10. I would also think about putting TOH at 15. That will give Duffy a break and possibly allow Tiernan more chances to attack. Finally I would put JOC on the bench to come off as an impact player and give one of the young lads a chance to start.

I do not think EE's position is ever going to be in question, he has more excuses then you could fill a book with. It's surely a tough one, tactics not working, attacking not working, out half not firing on all cylinders or moving the backine. So it must be all Gerry Kelly's fault. If we lose by less then 30 points it is a result, we showed last Saturday we cannot score a try as we butchered over laps all over the paddock, we cannot kick penalty's even in front of the posts so we cannot possibly win or can we.

Elwood has said he's unlikely to make changes

If he continues this policy and we see similarly limp performances (Gloucester away aside) like the last number of games, then his head is on the block. No excuses, get on with it. We've the European Champions at home on New Years Day, we should be right up for this one. Forget the fact that the squad is tired, look at Quins who've been performing well all season with much the same 15. Unless we get the win here, we're screwed, because I can't see us beating Aironi out there. Win or bust

fatgav wrote: Onwards and upwards and all that... Tough to be optimistic but I said I'd create a thread for Sunday in the hope of forgetting last night sonewhat.

Does anyone know if it's possible to get a Clan Terrace ticket for the game? None on ticketmaster.

Got a few direct from the branch office at the sportsground a few days before Christmas. Prob your best bet, assuming it's open at some stage this week.

I'll be there, but I won't blame anyone who isn't, not after all this.