Connacht v Leinster, January 1

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Connacht: G Duffy (cpt), B Tuohy, E Griffin, K Tonetti, T O'Halloran, N O'Connor, P O'Donohoe; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Loughney, G Naoupu, M McCarthy, M Kearney, J O'Connor, J Muldoon.
Replacements: E Reynecke, D Buckley, D Rogers, E McKeon, TJ Anderson, F Murphy, M Jarvis, H Fa'afili

Leinster: I Nacewa; D Kearney, E O'Malley, B Macken, A Conway, I Madigan, I Boss; J McGrath, R Strauss, J Hagan. L Cullen (cpt), D Browne, R Ruddock, K McLaughlin/S Jennings, L Auva'a.
Replacements: S Cronin, H van der Merwe, N White, D Toner, S Jennings/J Murphy, J Cooney, N Reid/F Carr, L Fitzgerald

....................................................................................

Connacht are riding an 11 game losing streak. Leinster haven't been beaten in their last 12 games.

From a Leinster perspective, it's always great seeing Niall O'Connor as the opposition's starting flyhalf- he looked out of his depth while at Ulster and is now looking just as bad for Connacht. It's also good to see Brendan Macken, Andrew Conway, Jack McGrath and Jamie Hagan get a start. I'll be paying close attention to how Ian Madigan controls things with such an inexperienced three-quarter line outside him.

 

[big ginger 8]

As you've said snoop great to see some of the young players been used don't see why their using McLaughlin at 7 (if fit of course) might as well rest him. Is really brilliant to see instead of our foreign props our home-grown ones are getting a run. Connacht have of course forgotten how to win so Leinster win probably. Look forward to it. As a side note the amount of players produced by Leinster on both sides is amazing.

 

[Peat]

Will Madigan be doing his own goal kicking for once?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I suspect it'll be Nacewa kicking for Leinster. I don't have anoy problem with it. Let Madigan continue to improve the other aspects of his game before placing the "burden" of kicking upon him. He's made rapid progress this season because, quite frankly, he didn't look capable of playing at such a high level last year. I suspect that Joe Schmidt felt the same hence the signing of Mat Berquist. That Madigan has improved so much is a testament to the caoching ability of Schmidt and skills coach Richie Murphy.

 

[Peat]

Makes sense, but given how some are already backing Madigan for the 3rd choice Irish fly-half spot (with a bit of reason considering the air of cripple-fight over iHumph and Keatley yesterday), it would be interesting to see him do his own kicking for once, as right now that'd surely be holding him back.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Yeah but it's quite possible that Fergus McFadden has pushed himself into contention as Ireland's first choice inside centre. Given the demolition job done by Leinster on Bath in the Aviva Stadium, it wouldn't shock me to see a 12/13 combo of McFadden/O'Malley. If McFadden is in the team, the need for a goalkicking flyhalf diminishes.

Talk of Madigan in the Ireland team is premature though. His tactical kicking needs a ton of work before he'll get near the team. Until he sorts that out he won't be considered beyond Wolfhounds level. His running game is outstanding at present though.

 

[Peat]

Yeah but it's quite possible that Fergus McFadden has pushed himself into contention as Ireland's first choice inside centre. Given the demolition job done by Leinster on Bath in the Aviva Stadium, it wouldn't shock me to see a 12/13 combo of McFadden/O'Malley. If McFadden is in the team, the need for a goalkicking flyhalf diminishes.

McFadden should be involved in the centres somewhere. Right now I'd go for McFadden/Cave, but wouldn't be surprised to see D'Arcy/McFadden. Not O'Malley's greatest fan tbh. But while McFadden does lessen the need for a fly-half to be a first-choice goal kicker, the fly-half still needs to be able to step up if worse comes to worse imo.

Talk of Madigan in the Ireland team is premature though. His tactical kicking needs a ton of work before he'll get near the team. Until he sorts that out he won't be considered beyond Wolfhounds level. His running game is outstanding at present though.

The problem is so is that of Humphreys and Keatley. At which point, the prosecution would like to rest its case for Mr Wallace's new central contract...


Anyway, will be interesting to see how this one goes. I am baffled by Connacht having a lock at 6, a 6 at 8 and a 8 at lock, but that Leinster pack are going to have to be switched on regardless to stop them.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I actually think the way Madigan plays is very similar to Humphreys. For all Humphreys frailties, when he's "on" he's a fantastic attacker like Madigan. What he has over Madigan is better tactical kicking and experience as a frontline kicker in high pressured games. The knock on Humphreys is that he's very flaky and if he's not up for it, his defense is woeful as is his game management. I suspect Delan Kidney's flyhalf pecking order is:

1. O'Gara
2. Sexton
3. Wallace
4. Humphreys
5a. Madigan
5b. Keatley

I also agree with you about Eoin O'Malley.

Connacht's main problem is, in my opinion, that the coaching staff has gone stale. The players aren't responding to them any more. Elwood may only be in his second season as head coach but he was there for a number of years as backs coach. Likewise Dan McFarland has been forwards coach for an age. I also don't like Elwood's conservative selection policy among the backs and his recruitment of new players the last two seasons has been shocking. He's brought in Dave McSharry to help the first team and...................and that's about it. The remainder of his signings have been very very poor.

 

[Peat]

Agree with everything you say on fly-halves.

On the Connacht score, if you believe what they read, their recruitment policy basically amounts to who's willing to move out west. Even some AIL players have said "No thanks". True or not, the use of their resources could be better.

 

[big ginger 8]

About Madigan's goalkicking when he was in school in Blackrock he bottled a kick from 15m in front of the posts to beat Kilkenny match went to a replay and 'rock duly lost which of course would be seen as a huge embarassment for them. I wonder if thats why he never really kicks of course it could just be the fact that McFadden and Nacewa are simply better kickers.

Also being me I have to say it's been a great few weeks for McGrath captaining the A team at 22, making a good cameo of the bench and finally starting a game.

 

[Peat]

He's gonna have to get over that if he wants to play for Ireland.

Although that was a lovely tactical kick over O'Halloran's head there.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

3-9 to Leinster at the break. Both teams look fairly poor. The difference so far is the halfbacks.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Incredibly dull, as was expected. Leinster got kinda near the Connacht line there once, but Jack McGrath (I think) drops the ball. Connacht pulling their usual ploy of throwing the ball into touch whenever they happen to look in any way dangerous.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Trés dramatic. Connacht drop goal fall inches short, to the point that the TMO had to be consulted, with the final kick of the game. Leinster 15-13 Connacht.

 

[big ginger 8]

Incredibly dull, as was expected. Leinster got kinda near the Connacht line there once, but Jack McGrath (I think) drops the ball. Connacht pulling their usual ploy of throwing the ball into touch whenever they happen to look in any way dangerous.

I should kill you. Ah not a great game only caught 2nd half dull, quite obvious dg had dropped short I thoght.