try ER pity i cant spell his name

I owe ummm an apology. Maybe they didn't mean to throw this game but they certainly have. I thought the team had advance enough from years past to deal with the number of changes made to the line-up, but obviously not. Very disappointing handing the bonus point to the Scarlets.

Bonus point for Scarlets. 31-3. Damaged limitation now.

What is this ref trying to do to us!

from galway bay fm the ref sounds shite.

now the fair play league seems worse aswell £10,000 for underage reward

Another try for Scarlets 24-3, easily on track for the bonus point. Being totally outplayed here by the sounds of it. Down to 14 as well with John Muldoon in the bin.

14-3 at half time. scarlets VERY strong. we need new game plan for the second half.

7-3 TOH was down injured but keep playing.

scarlets really going for the 4try bonus really early on.
sounds like a good game. borlase seems to be doing ok

7-0 after 20mins. drive to the line afer a line out. come on CONNACHT

I would think so, Buckley will probably go to Dev Contract the others will probably being cut. At year three it's "sh*t or get off the pot" time, if you're not getting any game time with the Seniors at all then you'd need to be sure you're keeping up to date with your studies...

YEAR 3
Shane Conneely Backrow
Denis Buckley Prop
Mark Dolan Scrumhalf

So what happens to these lads now? Development contracts?

Aaron seems to be ahead of Shane in the Conneely family bragging rights. Is he likely to make the jump?

Denis we know can do the business. Great to see him start last weekend.

Dolan I haven't heard much about, but with 1st year Marmion doing well with the Ireland U21s and Dave Moore on a development contract (I think) I guess he has a bit of an uphill struggle to get noticed.

Packie wrote:

connachtexile wrote: I like the line up but why play Heffernan at 6? Does he play there as well? I always thought he was a second row? If EE is giving him his debut in a position that he's unfamiliar in strikes me as dumb. EE seems to have stopped the 'playing guys out of position' thing for a while but now this. I like Heffernan alot I think he's a massive prospect which is why it annoys that he is not in the second row. I'm sure at some stage Muldoon/Grace will come on and he will either move to the second row or be subbed off but if EE wanted a third option at line-out he should have played Gannon at 6 and given Heffernan a proper 20/25 minutes from the bench in his optimal position.

Heffernan is a backrow, a 6 primarily, can play 7, to the best of my knowledge he's never played 2nd row

Yep always been 6, waaaay too small for second row. Was at UCD and playing AIL for Lansdowne up to this season. Good to see another 1st Year Academy Player stepping up...

FromTheDeadSite wrote: Connacht Academy squad announced for 2011-2012
By Sea_point
July 18 2011

The Connacht Academy have announced their squad for the season 2011-12

The Connacht Rugby Academy is a program that identifies and develops indigenous players with potential to play for Connacht and Ireland. Players such as Ronan Loughney, Andrew Browne, David Nolan, Dermot Murphy and Eoin Griffin have graduated through this system into the professional ranks in recent years. Eoin McKeon has made the step up this year.

This year’s inductees, sees the inclusion of Ireland U20 players Dave Heffernan, Kieran Marmion and Mick Kearney. Dave Heffernan from Ballina, went to school in Blackrock College, played with Connacht at U19 and U20 before getting the call-up to the Ireland U20 v France in the 6 Nations in 2011. Mick Kearney, a lock from Raheny in Dublin, played in all U20 6 Nations and Junior World Cup games. Kieran Marmion, from Brecon in Wales, who’s grandfather is from Loughrea, played with the Connacht A team v Enisei STM of Russia in April, before getting drafted into the Ireland U20 Squad for the Junior World Cup in Italy in June 2011.

Also contracted to the Academy are Ireland U19 players Jack Carty, an outhalf from Athlone playing for Buccaneers and Tadhg Leader, an Outhalf/Centre from Castlegar in Galway who went to school in the Bish. Shane Layden, from Carrick on Shannon and Conor Finn from Aughrim were both on the Cistercian College Roscrea team that lost out to Clongowes in the Leinster Schools Cup in March of this year.

The Connacht Academy 2011-12


YEAR 3
Shane Conneely Backrow
Denis Buckley Prop
Mark Dolan Scrumhalf

YEAR 2
Aaron Conneely Backrow
Danny Qualter Lock
Callum Boland Back Three

YEAR 1
Jack Carty Outhalf
Tadhg Leader Outhalf/Centre
Mick Kearney Lock
Kieran Marmion Scrumhalf
David Heffernan Backrow
Shane Layden Back Three
Conor Finn Centre/Back Three

connachtexile wrote: I like the line up but why play Heffernan at 6? Does he play there as well? I always thought he was a second row? If EE is giving him his debut in a position that he's unfamiliar in strikes me as dumb. EE seems to have stopped the 'playing guys out of position' thing for a while but now this. I like Heffernan alot I think he's a massive prospect which is why it annoys that he is not in the second row. I'm sure at some stage Muldoon/Grace will come on and he will either move to the second row or be subbed off but if EE wanted a third option at line-out he should have played Gannon at 6 and given Heffernan a proper 20/25 minutes from the bench in his optimal position.

Heffernan is a backrow, a 6 primarily, can play 7, to the best of my knowledge he's never played 2nd row

I like the line up but why play Heffernan at 6? Does he play there as well? I always thought he was a second row? If EE is giving him his debut in a position that he's unfamiliar in strikes me as dumb. EE seems to have stopped the 'playing guys out of position' thing for a while but now this. I like Heffernan alot I think he's a massive prospect which is why it annoys that he is not in the second row. I'm sure at some stage Muldoon/Grace will come on and he will either move to the second row or be subbed off but if EE wanted a third option at line-out he should have played Gannon at 6 and given Heffernan a proper 20/25 minutes from the bench in his optimal position.

Quite happy with that actually. 15-11 is strong, Nikora at 10 is understandable, Murphy deserves a hesitant nod at 9.

Borlase is a pick from outside the Connacht coaching team I'd venture but lets see what he's about.

Kearney has done well when he's got a chance, Heffernan is a good prospect.

This team is more than capable of being competitive.

ummm, wrote: A few quick things:

We're preparing to throw this game. New guys need game time, true, but every game counts right now.

I wouldn't go that far ummm, that side does not represent a total capitulation. With Wilko, Macca and NOC unavailable we knew there would be changes and Connacht's assignment got more difficult. A little surprised by the number of changes but they do not necessarily weaken the team to a point where they shouldn't be competitive. No sense of taking Borlase on if there were no plans to see what he could do. Personally would have gotten Buckley right back out there but perhaps Borlase has been showing something in practice. Muldoon can use the rest and it's good for Heffernan to get the game time. I would have Gannon on the bench to cover the second row though. No problem with McSharry and Griffin at centre and it might be a little harsh that Jarvis is not starting, but Nikora is a capable 10.

I would love to see Connacht push for every available point from here on out, but I'd question how much of a difference finishing 8th or 11th will make in the end. IMO a side like this, a good mix of settled players with a few short on game time, will benefit Connacht in the long term.