Anyone have to q outside ground for tickets before the game? There was a huge q at 5 past 3 - I'd say a lot of folks missed the first 20 - 30 minutes. I tried to buy tickets online at 3 and you couldn't as it just defaulted to the next home game (Zebre). Very bad optics.

No he didn’t sit in it but on a chair beside it. He took the cheer and banter in great spirits for a guy that just got sin binned, had a smile when he saw the couch and heard the cheering.

In fairness he gestured immediately to apologise for shaming the high chair

mahick wrote: Sol- Biggest disappointment: The red chair wasn't used.

Oh yes it was.. When Glasgow binned there was a massive cheer as the red chair was occupied- so much so that the lads (team) were looking round to see what the noise was about:cheer:

I dont think you're correct there.

Originally when the Glasgow lad was sin binned, he sat on the Glasgow bench. The cheer occurred when he was forced to sit on one of the green plastic chairs that are there every season

Sol- Biggest disappointment: The red chair wasn't used.

Oh yes it was.. When Glasgow binned there was a massive cheer as the red chair was occupied- so much so that the lads (team) were looking round to see what the noise was about:cheer:

whatever about losing Muldoon as a captain he was mister dependable positioning himself and catching the kick-offs, this was the biggest negative from the game as I don't think any of our forwards have the ability to do it.

I thought at times Blade was tapping and going when it just wasn't on, that redding mistake really is a howler I'll be honest I didn't give it too much thought at the time, that sort of error just isn't good enough at this level, but agree we shouldn't have had ourselves in that position.

Wrong ref decision or no (and it certainly was wrong) we shouldn't have been in that position at the death.

Some amazing attacking go forward rugby, but some massive defensive gaps. Their first try was a giveaway. We were shown up in the scrum, but I think some of the penalty calls us in that setpiece were a bit harsh. Lineout functioned really well I think.

Jack had a really strong game, that cross field kick was a thing of beauty. Seemed to lose a bit of shape when Craig came on, but I think CR still had a good game from a field game point of view. His drop goal attempt didn't have the distance, and the following penalty was such a close thing.

Blade had a good game, Mitchell was decent when he came on - not perfect, could've done with some quicker ball. You'd have to think that if KM had been playing that might have given us that slight edge.

Seemed to be a lot of Glasgow lads offside in the ruck, but that's probably Connacht tinged glasses. Van De Merwe was very quick up on the restarts, probably got something to do with him being a good 5 meters ahead of the restart, but ehh.

Ultan looked like he was raring to go, great to see.

Butler had a good match, some decent breaks. Would've liked him to be talking to the ref a bit more about scrums and the offside, but what with it being a first competitive match for him as a nailed on Captain, I don't think anyone can find too much fault there.

Would've loved to have turned the screws when they were down to 14, but to be fair Glasgow really rallied when the card came out. Hogg was immense for them.

Massive positives: little enough in the way of unforced errors, decision making seemed to be ok (even though with 3 mins left on the clock I would've thought a kick to the corner rather than a long range penalty would've been the way to go), and there was no nerves there with the team.

Equally massive positive: burritos and burgers on the Clan side? Like I'm not enough of a lard arse.

Biggest disappointment: The red chair wasn't used.

A losing point against a near full strength Glasgow to open the season is no bad result. Hopefully a decent result against top of the table Zebre next week will be the start of a massively successful season.

RoadRunnerR1 wrote: I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong on this but since Stuart Hogg clearly carried the ball over the line and touched down following Ronaldson's horrible attempt at a drop goal at the end of the game, then Connacht should have been awarded a 5m scrum rather than the 22 drop out given to Glasgow. The ref was right there and saw what had happened. Have the rules changed in this regard or were we just screwed again by a welsh official.

I think screwed is a bit harsh , yes an error in law was made and being honest it was a biggish error to make.

Id say the ref was expecting Hogg to wind the clock down 3 secs and then put it down, so id say he was watching the clock and missed the ball being taken over the line, it was a huge cock up from Hogg

What suprises me most is that no one on the Connacht team questioned it either on the pitch or off it.

Right on about Stuart Hogg's action and the law. Apparently ref didn't spot, neither did tv coverage and none of the team argued point to ref (in the Main Stand we were roaring) so Hogg got away with it..

I'm sure somebody will correct me if I'm wrong on this but since Stuart Hogg clearly carried the ball over the line and touched down following Ronaldson's horrible attempt at a drop goal at the end of the game, then Connacht should have been awarded a 5m scrum rather than the 22 drop out given to Glasgow. The ref was right there and saw what had happened. Have the rules changed in this regard or were we just screwed again by a welsh official.

MulMan wrote: The performance was there at times but these were the sort of games that we were on the losing end of too much last season, against a very strong Glasgow outfit it was decent, they won the battle of the restarts which put us under lots of pressure in the first half, ultimately though Craig was really unlucky and if the post had swayed out a bit it would leave a vastly different feeling following are first comepetitve game of the Friend era.

Couldn't agree more. Came away from the game feeling really disappointed but there were a lot of positives to be taken out of it. Jack was superb.

The performance was there at times but these were the sort of games that we were on the losing end of too much last season, against a very strong Glasgow outfit it was decent, they won the battle of the restarts which put us under lots of pressure in the first half, ultimately though Craig was really unlucky and if the post had swayed out a bit it would leave a vastly different feeling following are first comepetitve game of the Friend era.

decent first half for the neutrals, don't think the defensive coaches will be too happy

Not sure I'd want to bump into Dave Rennie in a dark alley, angry scarry looking man

think it'll be a tight game, connacht to sneak it by 3 points. Excited to see how Godwin fares in his first competitive game,hoping for big things

McNamara wrote: Bit off topic but is anyone still waiting on their season ticket? I have an eticket for tomorrow but it's a bit weird

I heard of a good few that didn't. A lot of family ticket holders only got the kids' tickets.
I was late getting mine last season but I thought they'd have it all sorted this time around.

Bit off topic but is anyone still waiting on their season ticket? I have an eticket for tomorrow but it's a bit weird

I Have a ticket for the clan stand tomorrow.
If anyone would like to buy it?

I can meet you in the huntsman beforehand

sligsup wrote:

Craic Head wrote:
Denis B
Dave H
Finlay B

Ultan
Gavin T

Eoin McK
Jared B (Capt)
Robin C

Bladey
Jack C

Healy
Tom F
Kyle G
Cian K
Tiernan O'H

Shane D
Conan the Barbarian
Conor C
James C
Paul B
James M
Craig R
Eoin G

I actually think Eoin G will be starting or not in the 23 match day squads, doesnt offer the versatility off the best Kelleher or Leader do hence why I think Niyi will start before kelleher.

Yep, Griff was a bit random and Niyi probably should have been in there as Craig can cover centre as well as fly half. Not a bad guess at the team though nearly got a full house, Copeland and Thornbury must be injured.

Very few rain expected (15%), little breeze (10 mph)
Should be a good game.
I'm just worried about this damned Hogg, who is probably the best FB in Europe...

MulMan wrote: Glasgow team is much stronger than I was expecting, thought some of the Scottish internationals would have been rested, my optimism from earlier in the week is declining as this is now a tougher task than originally forecasted. Still hopeful though and we've got a really strong side named too.

Paddy Power would seem to agree as Glasgows odds have tightened. That said Connacht is on a high after the Leinster win and a successful pre-season. They also have the advantage of having this team play together in pre-season so they should be comfortable together while this Glasgow team hasn't seen much of each other since the end of last season. Also home advantage is hugely important. So while you might be a bit deflated with what Glasgow are throwing at Connacht, there is every reason to hope that Connacht can overcome them. It certainly will lay down a marker for the season ahead. I tend to believe it will be a positive marker

Glasgow team is much stronger than I was expecting, thought some of the Scottish internationals would have been rested, my optimism from earlier in the week is declining as this is now a tougher task than originally forecasted. Still hopeful though and we've got a really strong side named too.

Connacht team: www.connachtrugby.ie/godwin-set-for-debu...heir-pro14-campaign/

(15-9) Tiernan O’Halloran, Cian Kelleher, Kyle Godwin, Tom Farrell, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade, (1- Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, James Cannon, Paul Boyle, Jarrad Butler, Eoin McKeon.

Replacements (16-23): Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, Quinn Roux, Cillian Gallagher, James Mitchell, Craig Ronaldson, Niyi Adeolokun.

9 academy graduates starting including 6 in the pack with two more on the bench. 6 starters are internationals, 2 more on the bench. First (competitive) start for Boyle & Godwin.

Glasgow team: Glasgow team on twitter

Pretty much fully loaded.

Bit late. Murray Kinsella has already broadcast Copeland's status on Twitter.