HEC P3: Connacht Rugby v Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque

[Teh Mite]

The Sportsground - 07/12/2012 - 20:00​

 

[Tony Manx]

Weather forecast anyone?!

No matter.....I can see trouble ahead even if Zee does not have passport problems this time!!

 

[Tony Manx]

It says on Sky text that Connacht are without 13 first team players.....this true? Biarritz are fielding arguably their best team so should be interesting........Irish fans note Berquist is listed to play (I say listed as he was against Quins but was injured in the warm up so can never tell!!)

 

[big ginger 8]

It says on Sky text that Connacht are without 13 first team players.....this true? Biarritz are fielding arguably their best team so should be interesting........Irish fans note Berquist is listed to play (I say listed as he was against Quins but was injured in the warm up so can never tell!!)

Yeah some are arguable but for a team like Connacht 13 injured players is an unbelievable loss. Especially missing three of their most important forwards in White, Muldoon and Naoupo. It's a pity because I'd have been quite confident in Connacht. Still think they can give Biarritz quite a go but it'll be much harder.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1205/1224327509883.html

 

[Tony Manx]

Will be intruiging match for a number of reasons and I am sorry that the Connacht team are shorn of some of their best players as, like you, I believe that they could well have had a decent chance.

I agree with Elwood in that the BO pack and Yach will do the most of the playing, especially if the weather is as bad as it is here at the moment, but will be interesting to see if Imanol gets a run out earlier rather than later as he continues recuperation because he is going to be needed in the weeks ahead.......who knows, a decent match tonight may tempt me to prolong my bedtime and brave the elements for the 21.00 kick off back in Biarritz next week!!

 

[psychic duck]

Looking at the Connacht tea, apart from Muldoon and Naoupu missing in the back row, that doesn't look far off their top team, I think 13 players injured figure must have counted the players in their reserves.

15. Robbie Henshaw, 14. Tiernan O'Halloran, 13. Danie Poolman, 12. Dave McSharry, 11. Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10. Dan Parks, 9. Kieran Marmion, 1. Brett Wilkinson, 2. Jason Harris Wright, 3. Ronan Loughney, 4. Mick Kearney, 5. Mike McCarthy, 6. Andrew Browne, 7. Willie Faloon, 8. Eoin McKeon,

 

[coonor]

Looking at the Connacht tea, apart from Muldoon and Naoupu missing in the back row, that doesn't look far off their top team, I think 13 players injured figure must have counted the players in their reserves.

15. Robbie Henshaw, 14. Tiernan O'Halloran, 13. Danie Poolman, 12. Dave McSharry, 11. Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10. Dan Parks, 9. Kieran Marmion, 1. Brett Wilkinson, 2. Jason Harris Wright, 3. Ronan Loughney, 4. Mick Kearney, 5. Mike McCarthy, 6. Andrew Browne, 7. Willie Faloon, 8. Eoin McKeon,

To be fair very few of them would be nailed on starters if others were fit to play. But they have only played it abit. Out of them O'Halloran, McSharry, Vainikolo, Parks, Marmiom, Wilkinson and Faloon would likely be starting. That's a big loss for Connacht but there is still some quality. Henshaw is very capable and McSharry plays well every time I watch him in the Heineken Cup. Parks and Marmion form a good paring and McCarthy has just come off the back of an impressive international series.

 

[big ginger 8]

Looking at the Connacht tea, apart from Muldoon and Naoupu missing in the back row, that doesn't look far off their top team, I think 13 players injured figure must have counted the players in their reserves.

15. Robbie Henshaw, 14. Tiernan O'Halloran, 13. Danie Poolman, 12. Dave McSharry, 11. Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10. Dan Parks, 9. Kieran Marmion, 1. Brett Wilkinson, 2. Jason Harris Wright, 3. Ronan Loughney, 4. Mick Kearney, 5. Mike McCarthy, 6. Andrew Browne, 7. Willie Faloon, 8. Eoin McKeon,

Gavin Duffy, Eoin Griffen, Adrian Flavin, Nathan White, Michael Swift and Nathan White would all IMO start. Dave Gannon, Kyle Tonetti and Frank Murphy would at least be in the 23.

 

[Tony Manx]

1. Connacht playing strongly and deservedly ahead against the wind.
2. One eyed Dewi Morris does not know his arse from his elbow
3. Is Bosch seriously an international?
4. Whilst upset a serious possibility, BO power will overcome................

Edit 10:9 half time and BO playing as well as they have for many a week.....................crap!!

 

[SelimNiai]

Gwan Connacht

 

[Tony Manx]

I will stay in my warm front room next week rather that head to Aguillera to see this rubbish.................I feel the end of my tenure as a season ticket holder coming unless Blanco takes real action very, very soon as this CLUB is imploding never mind the team.

Connacht were by far the better team tonight but I have to say that their win against Quins was more worthy of being their best win....to defeat this lot was no better that beating a Rabo bottom half team!

Well done Connacht, you may just be the catalyst to show Blanco that he cannot just employ dullards out of loyalty and has to do something........................and for that I really do thank you!!

 

[Groundhog]

This is brilliant

 

[SelimNiai]

Huge result for Connacht.

Its sad to see Biarritz on the decline, should be up there with the powerhouses of French rugby.

 

[dudeabides]

Those Irish clubs really pulled off great wins in the Heineken cup today.

 

[Groundhog]

No bonus point

 

[Tony Manx]

Its sad to see Biarritz on the decline, should be up there with the powerhouses of French rugby.

I, you will be surprised to know, agree but wrong management who fail to recruit properly or even use properly the comparitively small amount of money that they do manage to attract, and there should be more, all contribute to an inevitable decline in this modern age of rugby.

Blanco and his cohorts are amateurs in a professional era and this decline will continue until there is a change at the top or a merger with Bayonne to tackle the money issue together with a totally new management structure takes place.

Sad...very sad!

 

[SelimNiai]

I don't know a huge amount about French domestic rugby and its a long time since I visited that part of France but I got the sence that Bayonne and Barritz arent the best of friends? Is that the case?

 

[big ginger 8]

Fantastic result for Connacht.

 

[Tony Manx]

I don't know a huge amount about French domestic rugby and its a long time since I visited that part of France but I got the sence that Bayonne and Barritz arent the best of friends? Is that the case?

Talk about Liverpool ManU or Arsenal Spurs and double it.......unfortunately, financial reality will dictate that only one Basque club can survive with the present managements, and the money and number of supporters available but it might take some years and trips to Pro2 for the fact to be understood and even then, depending on the staium and name, a number of supporters will not attand initially.............

 

[Tribesmen-ce-123]

Just back from the game. Great result and a great performance from the Connacht men. Everyone on the team played out of their skin for the whole 80 minutes, even with half of their first team missing. The scrum was really good tonight, holding it's own even and even winning a penalty though significantly outweighed by the Biarritz pack. Park's played a blinder and had great decision making and place kicking, and the backline, Vainikolo, Henshaw and Mcsharry in particular ran some great line's. On tonight's evidence they are going to give Biarritz and Harlequin's away a great run for their money.

Mcsharry's got to be in contention for making the Ireland squad for the 6 nations if he keeps on playing like this. He's a very hard worker with good pace, size and he's not afraid to put the head down and carry the ball into contact. He also put some serious hits on the opposition.